Today was Macaron Day here in NYC, and let me tell you, it was a great way to kick off the spring season! Macaron Day takes place once per year, and participating bakeries all over the city give away one free macaron to each person who enters their shop. I first heard about Macaron Day back in 2011 when I was interning in the city, but didn't get a chance to try out any of these treats. After class today, a friend and I made it to two of the locations on the map and indulged in these delicious cookies!
The first stop on our journey was Bisous Ciao on the Lower East Side. There we got a macaron that tasted just like peanut butter and jelly! It was oh-so-delicious, and I just had to take a bite before I snapped the Instagram photo below. The bakery itself was very nice and clean inside. We had great customer service, and I would definitely stop back there again. Of course, macarons are pretty pricey, and a half dozen will cost you $16.50. I also wish they had seating at Bisous Ciao -- it's more of a grab and run place.
Our next stop was the Macaron Parlour in the East Village. I was super impressed with this location! We had a full menu of macarons to choose from for our freebie, and I snagged Earl Grey. My friend got strawberry, and both of us agree that they tasted amazing! I love Earl Grey tea, and the macaron was even better than I could have imagined! Plus, this place is super adorable inside, and has a seating area in the back that is very clean and modern. It's definitely a great place for reading or having coffee with a friend. Oh, did I mention they also have tons of other pastries to choose from? The coffee (they sell Blue Bottle here!) smells absolutely amazing while it's brewing, too. A half dozen macarons here sells for $15.00, so it's a bit more affordable than Bisous Ciao. I am definitely planning a return stop to Macaron Parlour!
Overall, Macaron Day is really fun and quite a yummy experience! It is also a great cause, because 10% of all profits made from purchases will go towards feeding the homeless in NYC. While there will only a couple locations downtown that I could easily make it to, there are many more participants uptown, especially around the Central Park area. Check out the Macaron Day website HERE for more information. I highly suggest taking part in this great event! I'm already marking my calendar for next year!
