Macaron Day Toronto

Last March 20th, I was excited to attend the Macaron Day TO, here in Toronto.  World Macaron Day was founded by Pierre Hermé in 2008 in Paris, France. Since then, it has spread to major cities around the World including Paris, London and New York City to celebrate our love of Macaron and also for a charitable cause. 

Here in Toronto, there were several patisseries that participated in this event by giving out a free macaron and donating 25% of the sale proceeds that day to Red Door Shelter, a charitable organisation providing assistance to Women and Refugees fleeing from violence. It was a fun and very sweet event. Definitely got a sugar high from the different macarons we tried. For me, besides eating some macarons and donated to a charitable cause, I finally fulfilled one of my New Year's resolutions which you will discover in this post.

Rainbow colours and different flavours of Macarons from MoRoCo Chocolat. Here in Toronto, we do not have Ladurée or Pierre Hermé. Our local patisseries have learnt to bake their own Macarons and made up their own flavours. My favourite macarons are from MoRoCo Chocolat. They also make their own chocolates here. Their restaurant also serve delicious food and their drinks including different coffees, teas and cocktails are amazing too.

There were endless baking of Macarons all throughout that day. Freshly baked Pistachio macarons which is one of my favourite macarons. 

Macaron Day Class with Mardi at the Kitchen Studio.

Gadgets we used: Kitchen Aid mixer, pipping, spatulas, baking trays, electronic food scale
(to weigh the ingredients) and Iphone (used as our timer).

Finally, I fulfilled one of my New Year's Resolutions to attend a Macaron Class taught by Mardi at the Yorkville Kitchen Studio. Mardi, works as a French teacher at an Elementary Boys school, here in Toronto. She has lived in England and also in Paris, France for many years. She loves to cook and bake. Mardi learnt to bake Macarons, the French way, from the  Lenôtre Patisserie School in Paris, France. Mardi also teaches cooking at Le Cuisine in Paris. She also teach a cooking class to the boys at the Elementary school in Toronto through the Les Petits Chefs program, which she features in her blog, Eat. Live. Travel. Write - culinary adventures, near and far. Discover Mardi's blog here for her wonderful food photos and adventures. 

Mardi explained to us that there are three ways to make meringue: The French method, Italian method and the Swiss method. Macarons have meringue shells made from egg whites and filled with fillings made from ganache, buttercream or from jam filling. Mardi taught us the French method of preparing the meringue. 

Our first batch of Orange Macaron with chocolate ganache. Our ganache was made with semi-sweet chocolate chips sprinkled with liquid Orange essence which made it smell and taste so good. The chocolate and orange were a perfect pairing. 

Pipping the meringue shells onto the trays. Our second batch were Red Velvet Macarons.

The Red Velvet Macarons with cream cheese and buttercream filling.

While baking, we talked about our favourite Macaron places here in Toronto, in Paris (Ladurée or Pierre Hermé?) and also talked about our favourite Macaron flavours. The whole experience was fun and very comfortable. It was like hanging out in Mardi's or in your own kitchen.  

At the end of the day, after all of our Macarons adventure and Baking, we relaxed at MoRoCo Chocolat for a cappuccino and a Black Sesame Macaron.  Which macaron would you like to try? The Orange & Chocolate macaron or the Red Velvet macaron? 

Easter Bunnies

Some Easter Bunnies and Duckies made with White chocolate can be purchased on-line (Canada Delivery only) at MoRoCo Chocolat.

Sweet Easter indulgences from MoRoCo Chocolat.. Which Yummy Bunny would you like?

How will you celebrate Easter?  Let us gather around the Easter table here from Pottery Barn, Toronto.


Happy Easter everyone!