Celebrate Macaron Day with Free Macarons Around New York City
Macarons from La Maison du Chocolat. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]
In 2005, renowned pastry chef Pierre Hermé and other members of the prestigious Association Relais Desserts started Jour du Macaron (Macaron Day), a yearly holiday on March 20 where bakeries would give away free macarons and raise money for Federation des Maladies Orphelines.
For the first time, macaron lovers in New York City can celebrate too. This Saturday, March 20, marks the first annual Macaron Day NYC during which 13 shops (17 if you count multiple locations) are offering a free macaron per customer (tell the shop that you're there for Macaron Day), and a portion of the day's macarons sales will be donated to City Harvest. For more information, visit macarondaynyc.com.
I made a map of all the locations, along with a suggested public transportation route in case you want to visit all the shops in one day.
Macaron Map
View Macaron Day 2010 in a larger map
Macaron Route
I initially planned this route under the most optimal conditions—that is, not incorporating MTA service advisories. But if you've ever taken the subway on a weekend, you'll know that there are tons of changes, and this Saturday is no different. I noted some of those advisories in the route, but you should double check on Saturday. Note that leisurely walks could take the place of some of these subway rides, so take advantage of the good weather (while burning some calories)!
- Start: Almondine in Dumbo
from York St to Essex St-Delancey → DessertTruck Works- from Essex St-Delancey to 34th St-Herald Square [MTA Service Change], switch to downtown train to 23rd St → LA Burdick
- Walk → Madeleine Patisserie
from 23rd St to 34th St-Penn Station → Macaron Cafe
from 34th St-Herald Square to 59th St-Columbus Circle → Bouchon- from 59th St-Columbus Circle to Times Square [MTA Service Change], switch to uptown train to 103rd St → Silver Moon
- from 103rd St to 86th St → Georgia's Cafe and Bakery
- Walk to 81st St/Amsterdam, take M79 to 79th St/Madison Ave → La Maison du Chocolat
- Walk → Butterfield Market
at 77th St to 66th St → FC Chocolate Bar
- Walk → Mad Mac (Bernardaud)
from Lexington Ave-59th St to 65th St, walk → Cannelle
Participating Shops
Almondine Bakery
85 Water Street, Dumbo
718-797-5026
442 9th Street, Park Slope
718-832-4607
Bouchon Bakery
10 Columbus Circle, 3rd Floor
212-823-9364
Butterfield Market
1114 Lexington Avenue
212-288-7800
Cannelle Patisserie
75-59 31st Avenue, East Elmhurst
718-565-6200
DessertTruck Works
6 Clinton Street
FC Chocolate Bar
714 Madison Avenue, 4th floor
212-759-1600
Georgia's Cafe & Bakery
2418 Broadway
212-362-2000
L.A. Burdick Chocolate
5 East 20th Street
212-796-0143
La Maison du Chocolat
1018 Madison Avenue
63 Wall Street
30 Rockefeller Center
Empire State Center Lobby
212-744-7117
Macaron Café
161 West 36th Street
212-564-3525
Madeleine Patisserie
132 West 23rd Street
212-243-2757
Mad-Mac at Bernardaud
499 Park Avenue at 59th Street
973-225-0930
Silver Moon Bakery
2740 Broadway
212-866-4717
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25 Comments:
what a bizarre and delicious sounding holiday!
kristin314 at 2:27PM on 03/19/10
Robyn, as a long-time reader of your blog, I have to ask: Will you ever have a day in your life as good as tomorrow? =)
organicchick at 3:11PM on 03/19/10
@organicchick: Thanks for reading! :) I thought I'd want to try to visit all the places in one day, buuut...honestly, I'm way too lazy for that. :( Sleep wins this round! If I had to choose just one place to try, I'd go to La Maison du Chocolat.
Robyn Lee at 3:29PM on 03/19/10
So much for my diet!
meHUNGRY at 3:40PM on 03/19/10
This is awesome. THanks for the map.
You can also take the 1 uptown from Bouchon to Silver Moon right on 59th street.
Aya Tanaka at 5:00PM on 03/19/10
@Carioca: You're welcome!
According to the MTA website, the uptown 1 is skipping 59th St tomorrow, which is why I put in the directions to go downtown to Times Square and then switch to an uptown (yeeeaaah, it's annoying).
Robyn Lee at 5:08PM on 03/19/10
This is awesome i would love spending a day traveling around the city grabbing macarons at all the different bakeries
Edwardkimuk at 5:16PM on 03/19/10
Ungh, missing this by a week. DISASTER, AGONY.
thedilettantista at 5:32PM on 03/19/10
PS: I second Robyn, go to La Maison du Chocolat. I interned at the Whitney this past summer and it was a struggle to not get macarons on a daily basis.
thedilettantista at 5:33PM on 03/19/10
oh how I wish I were in NYC this weekend!
Instead, I will be celebrating Macaron Day here in Seattle by making my own :)
violetcassis at 5:42PM on 03/19/10
That crawl route- wow. Today, you are my hero.
sloppydelicious at 6:01PM on 03/19/10
I'm so depressed. I just gorged on macarons this past week in Montreal... but I had to pay for mine!
lexophile at 7:40PM on 03/19/10
Maybe if I make a round trip, those at Silvermoon Bakery will forget my face and I can get extra macarons...
myinnerfatty at 1:54AM on 03/20/10
It turns out that Silver Moon isn't giving away macarons today after all, unless you buy a dozen of them, and then they'll throw in the 13th. I bought a loaf of bread, that didn't count.
Olivia Dryfuss at 2:43PM on 03/20/10
silver moon people are tough.
Aya Tanaka at 4:39PM on 03/20/10
I visited two locations today. Bouchon was packed...of course and their macarons are small and the pistachios were all gone by late afternoon. My mom popped a lemon one. Nothing special she said.
gargupie at 5:23PM on 03/20/10
The lady at La Maison du Chocolat was very sweet. I would consider going back to buy some as gifts. :)
gargupie at 5:24PM on 03/20/10
@Olivia: Damn, that's singy. :( Sorry to hear that. I went to Almondine and got a free macaron. Not bad.
Robyn Lee at 5:37PM on 03/20/10
Success!
La Maison du Chocolate in Rockefeller to Mad-Mac to Chocolate Bar to Bouchon to Macaron Cafe (with a detour at Sullivan Street Bakery) to La Maison in the Empire State Building to Madeleine Bakery (alas, they were out) to LA Burdick.
All on foot. Beautiful way to spend a beautiful day.
coffeelove at 6:52PM on 03/20/10
@coffeelove: Damn, good job! I only went to one place, but it took a 4-mile bike ride to get there...hopefully I earned my calories.
Robyn Lee at 10:32PM on 03/20/10
Went to Bouley bakery... they didn't know what I was talking about. It's not on the list. Ooops!
honeybea at 12:29AM on 03/21/10
All of these are known faves except Cannelle. What is this place? Why haven't we heard about them? How do they compare to Little Chef?
Thomas_Traveler at 3:22AM on 03/21/10
@Robyn - which place did you go to? I'm pretty sure you earned your calories...and then some ;)
It was definitely a fun and delicious day. And that's pretty much why I read/refresh Serious Eats constantly.. For wonderful news like Macaron Day.
coffeelove at 8:53PM on 03/21/10
@coffeelove: I tried Almondine: not bad, a bit too sweet. I tried a slice of their pear tart, which was waay better. mmmmmm.
Robyn Lee at 10:07PM on 03/21/10
Got up early on Sat AM to Silver Moon (stingy!) to Georgia's Cafe (nice and welcoming) to Bouchon (tiny) to Mad Mac (late opening) up to Butterfield Market (yay Payard!) then La Maison du Chocolat (One of the best!) and finally MacarOn Cafe (2 free macs each!). Very fun and photo-filled Macaron Day. Now I'm going to see my dentist! =)
HIGHLOWFOODDRINK at 1:48PM on 03/22/10