While these pretty, pastel-colored confections have been popularized by the French, macarons actually originated from the ovens of masterful Venetian chefs in Italy. Not to be confused with macaroons (although they share two basic ingredients), the foundation of these meringue-based treats is almond flour, confectioners' sugar, superfine sugar and egg whites. You'll find them garnished with any number of fillings, such as chocolate cream ganache, buttercreams or herb, nut or fruit-based concoctions. Here's where you can find this colorful eye candy in the East Bay, and be sure to let us know your favorites in the comments.
While Shades of Sugar Bakeshop doesn't have its own brick-and-mortar space yet, it does give you an excuse to visit the Cat Town Cafe which sells owner-baker Eric Szeto's beautiful macarons -- available in both petite and regular sizes. I think they're the closest that you'll find in the East Bay (flavor and texture-wise) to what's arguably considered the gold standard of macarons: the renowned douceurs produced by the Parisian pâtisserie Ladurée for over 150 years. At the latest Eat Real Festival, Szeto had a sumptuous seasonal buffet of macaron flavors created with locally-sourced ingredients: apricot and Jellicles Farm red shiso leaves with a Lapsang souchong tea ganache; cacao with a Drake Brewing Company's Imperial stout chocolate ganache; LAFAZA Madagascar vanilla with bourbon ganache; Numi Earl Grey tea with Meyer lemon ganache. Szeto can whip up custom macaron flavors and other desserts on request via his website.
Shades of Sugar Bakeshop
Cat Town Cafe [Map]
2869 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612
Ph: (510) 891-1100
Hours: Wed-Sat 9:30am-7pm
Facebook: SOS Bakeshop
Twitter: @sosbakeshop
Price range: $ (Pastries $10 and under)
Once you step into Masse’s Pastries, one of the co-owners -- Paul and Marcia Masse -- will be sure to greet you with a big smile while you stare longingly at the sumptuous desserts on display in their pastry case. A longstanding favorite of Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto neighborhood for over 18 years, their macarons taste as vibrant as their bright, festive colors.
Masse’s Pastries
1469 Shattuck Ave. [Map]
Berkeley, CA 94709
Ph: (510) 649-1004
Hours: Sun-Mon 8am-4pm; Wed-Sat 8am-6pm; Closed Tue
Facebook: Masse's Pastries
Twitter: @marciamasse
Price range: $ (Pastries $10 and under)
Stepping through the picturesque doors of Oakland's Miette location is like walking into a charming, life-sized dollhouse from the 1950s. Their delicious macarons are artfully stacked inside glass cookie jars on the counter, with several standard flavors to choose from such as pistachio, chocolate and hazelnut. A few seasonal selections are also available; notable summery flavors included rose-geranium, dulce de leche and coffee. There's additional stores in San Francisco and Marin where you can also pick up cookies, cakes and other irresistible desserts.
