Jour du Macaron 2013

With spring just around the corner, so is Jour du Macaron! On Wednesday, March 20 macaron lovers in Paris and throughout France are invited to indulge in the tasty treat while supporting a worthy cause. Here’s how it works: participating pâtisseries are offering visitors free macarons on March 20. In turn, the stores will be accepting [...]

Pierre Hermé’s coffee macaron recipe

A review of Macarons, by Pierre Hermé (Grub Street, 2011), would not be complete without whipping up a batch of scrumptious macarons from among the many delicious recipes presented in this fabulous collection. With dozens to choose from, I decided on coffee macarons, one of ten flavours Pierre Hermé has grouped together under the heading “classics.” (The [...]

Macarons, by Pierre Hermé

While the popular double-sided Parisian macaron was invented back in the 1930s, Pierre Hermé is famous for taking the delicate meringue confections to a whole new level of sophistication. The celebrated Parisian pastry chef and chocolatier is known for his exotic macaron flavours, both sweet and savoury. The author of several books on French pâtisserie and [...]

Jour du Macaron 2012 (Macaron Day)

The 7th annual edition of Jour du Macaron takes place on Tuesday March 20, 2012. This popular event, a celebration of the sweet and delicate double-sided macaron, is one that is eagerly anticipated by macaron lovers each year. The way it works is deliciously simple. Visitors to Pierre Hermé, Sadaharu Aoki, Laurent Duchêne, Jean-Paul Hévin, [...]

Romantic Paris gifts and special offers in February

As it has for the last five years, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau is once again holding its popular “Paris Romantique” Saint Valentine’s Day-themed campaign, featuring special offers and promotions throughout the month of February. The campaign includes discounts for restaurants, tours, hotels, and theatres as well as some yummy freebies! As in previous [...]

Jour du Macaron 2011

Macaron lovers in Paris and elsewhere will want to mark their calendars: Sunday, March 20 is “Jour du Macaron” (Macaron Day) in France – an annual celebration of the delicate meringue-based confections that come in a rainbow of colours and fillings. Pierre Hermé, who launched this event in 2005, will be offering free macarons in [...]

Romantic Paris chocolate freebies and discounts

As part of its “Paris Romantique” Saint Valentine’s Day-themed campaign, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau is giving away free gift or discount cards valid at Pierre Hermé chocolate and pastry shops and Pierre Marcolini chocolate shops in Paris. Pick up your cards at the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau office on rue des Pyramides [...]

Top French chocolatier awards for 2010

The Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat has named France’s top 155 chocolatiers for 2010. At the top of this year’s list, and winners of the prestigious Award du Chocolat, are Jean-Paul Hévin, Pierre Hermé, Fabrice Gillote, Jacques Genin, Anne-Françoise Benoit, Gilles Cresno, Jean-Emile Schmitt, Pascal Le Gac, Patrick Roger, Vincent Guerlais, François Pralus and Richard [...]

Jour du Macaron (Macaron Day)

France’s 5th annual Jour du Macaron (Macaron Day) will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2010. Founded by the Pastry King himself, Pierre Hermé, this day devoted to the crispy, round feather-light treat with a soft center, will feature free tastings and other special events in Pierre Hermé’s shops in Paris and Tokyo and 100 [...]

Pierre Hermé to open shop in London

Paris’s celebrated “Picasso of Pastry” is set to open a pâtisserie in London’s Knightsbridge district in 2010, possibly as early as this spring. Known for his gourmet macarons and artful pastries, Pierre Hermé already has four shops in Paris and one in Tokyo. The London shop will be known as Pierre Hermé Paris. British fans [...]

Best French chocolatier awards for 2009

The Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat has issued its annual ranking of the top 100 chocolatiers in France. At the top of the list this year are: Fabrice Gillotte (Dijon), Vincent Guerlais (Nantes), Jean-Paul Hévin (Paris), Pierre Hermé (Paris), Pâtisserie Lac (Nice), Pascal le Gac (Saint-Germain-en-Laye), La Maison du Chocolat (Paris), Pariès (Saint-Jean-de-Luz), and François [...]

Pierre Hermé

Pierre Hermé’s tiny, ultra-chic showcase boutique on rue Bonaparte is filled with spectacular pastries, cakes and hand-made chocolates. Small gem-like macarons in a rainbow of colors are especially popular. It’s hard not to be tempted by such mouth-watering treats. Chocolate lovers owe it to themselves to try Carrément Chocolat, a rich, sublime square of alternating [...]