#54 – CASSIS MACARON at LA MAISON DU MACARON

For the third year in a row, I’m going to attempt to eat every single item on Time Out New York’s annual 100 Best Dishes list. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100. Let the gluttony continue…

If any dessert is able to overtake the cupcake in oversaturation, it is the macaron. By now, most of us know there’s a difference between a French macaron and a coconut macaroon. If not, a French macaron (the type that have reached the limits of hipsterdom) is a little cookie sandwich consisting of buttercream between two almond based meringues. If you have never had one, you can’t fully understand the experience.

I do like me a good macaron, but frankly, they are now everywhere and the most popular parlors have maddeningly long lines just to get a taste of one (or buy boxes full).

French import Maison Ladurée on the Upper West Side is probably the most popular and definitely served the best macaron I’ve ever tasted. But La Maison du Macaron is sort of the underdog favorite, with fewer people aware of it, yet those in the know (like Time Out) crowning it the best.

Ir’s an adorable little shop with some seating in the back. They’re equally known for their almond croissants, but the macarons take center stage here behind a glass display. It seems the flavors are chosen just as much for their color coordination as they are for the season.

Since I have difficulty choosing, I took a box of 4 (which is expensive at $10) to enjoy at home later. I couldn’t resist some of the more unusual flavors, like Strawberry Thyme, Rhubarb Orange Blossom, and Banana Nutella. The flavors were all spot on, tasting authentic and complex.

But it was the cassis that Time Out brought me here for. Cassis is the French word for black currant, so this cookie had a tart, grape-like flavor. I believe it was stuffed with jam (instead of cream). Just like the perfect specimens before it, the crisp meringue cookies gave way to a soft and (in this case) gooey middle. There’s not a whole lot to say here, other than these macarons were pretty good.

I’m still not sure these were my favorite in the city – the ones at Ladurée are pretty tough to beat – but they’re a solid example for the few people left in New York who have not yet tried a macaron.

Would La Maison du Macaron’s Cassis Macaron make my Top 100 of the year? The flavor itself was bright, but not as special as some of the others on offer. Still, it gets an 8 out of 10.