Miette - Chocolate Lavender Macaron - July 1, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Miette Cakes LLC
Chocolate Lavender Macaron
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .9 oz. (25.47 g.) (estimate) in 1 macaron
Calories: 100 calories (estimate) in 1 macaron
Cost: $1.85 for 1 macaron
Purchased from: Miette, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Botanical Theme Week.

It's impossible to do justice to the huge range of plant-based edibles that pair well with chocolate in one week -- even if I am adding a few extra days to this "week."

I featured a lavender item a few days ago. But, it's a flavor that bears repeating. Lavender buds can stand up to the rich flavor of chocolate. And Miette does a nice job of infusing bold botanical flavors (like lavender, or rose geranium) into delicate (gluten free) macarons.

Four of today's Chocolate Lavender Macarons were carefully extracted from a glass jar, by staff in Miette's Oakland location. The two flavors co-existed very nicely in this little round, creamy and chewy, sandwich confection.

One macaron was eaten immediately, a second was shared with a friend, and two made it home. If you like your macaron crunchier rather than chewier, let it sit in a car for two days in a brown paper bag. Surprisingly, I liked this "crunchy" version too; although some of the fresh lavender flavor dissipates over a day or two. (Don't try leaving a chocolate bar in this bag; you'll end up with chocolate fondue.)

ChocolateBet: January 10, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Miette (Koppers)
Licorice Lentils
Good+
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/ 3 oz. (85 g.) (estimate) total bag/package
Calories: 75 calories
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bag
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, in San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Licorice Theme Week.

What are licorice lentils you ask?

For those living in the U.S., think little round discs of faintly licorice-flavored dark chocolate, coated with black candy shells -- similar to (Mars) MandM's.

These lentils were good by themselves, and/or...as part of a miniature bowl of hot, steaming licorice lentil soup, made with a Tablespoon of chocolate soy milk.* (Don't laugh, it was better than it looked.)

I'm fairly certain these lentils were made by Koppers (Greenwich Village, New York) and then re-sold by Miette Bakery -- a great little San Francisco establishment that carries unique chocolates as well as their own macarons and baked goods.


*Note: Use caution if you melt these in the microwave. Those little candy shells melt at a much higher temperature than the chocolate inside; so you could end up with faint notes of burnt, toasted marshmallow in your "soup" if you're not careful.