Toronto Girl West

Food is much like fashion –  what’s popular changes over time.

As far as desserts are concerned, for years now it’s been all about the cupcake. Well it’s time for the miniature cakes to step aside for the French macaron.

Nowadays, you can scarcely turn a corner in a large North American city without bumping into a shop selling their version of the French classic.

And while Vancouver certainly has a myriad of macaron purveyors not all are created equal. Because let’s be honest, any macaron flown halfway across the world to its point of sale is going to taste less than fresh.

An ideal macaron should be light, delicately sweet, slightly crunchy on the exterior slightly domed, and with beautiful feet. You see, a French macaron bears no resemblance to its American cousin; rather it is a meringue based confection that is the epitome of fine French pâtisserie.

And the perfect macaron is clearly Soirette’s specialty.

On our visit, all three of us (one of which was a five year old boy) chose a variety of macarons ($2 per piece, $11.50 for six, and $22 for a dozen) for taste testing purposes. The 17 flavours on offer ranged from pistachio to passion fruit.

Much to my surprise the matcha macaron was my absolute favourite. But regardless of your flavour preference, I doubt it’s possible to make a bad choice at Soirette.

To pair with the macarons, Soirette offers a wide selection of exquisite teas ($2.75-3.00) blended in house. My Pink Champagne tea was a lovely accompaniment to my afternoon treat.

For those looking for a richer beverage, there are decadent and plentiful servings of hot chocolate ($4-4.50) on the menu.

Soirette is a beautiful establishment that seems straight from a jewellery box. Its macarons are the best I’ve had since I lived in Paris. And the beverages are perfect accompaniments to the delicate treats.

In fact, not only did the adults in our group walk away delighted but the five year old did too! He even said to the sales lady, “Thank-you! The cookie was delicious!”

Note: Soirette is holding its grand opening on February 4th, 2012 between 10am and 4pm. Make sure to drop by for prizes and giveaways!

Question: Are you a fan of French macarons? What is your favourite type of French dessert?

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