the petite pig

the macaron (yes, just one "o")

it is about time that san francisco got its own little piece of paris.  while gay paree may have pierre herme, we san franciscans now have paulette macarons.  it’s the second location for this cute little bakery (the first being in beverly hills), which serves up macarons in over a dozen different flavors.  if you’re imagining a coconut crusted cookie, you’re thinking of macaroon, two o’s.  i’m talking about the one “o” french macaron, two cookies made of egg whites and almond flour sandwiching a delicious dollop of cream or ganache.  it’s unlike any other cookie you’ve had and once you’ve tasted one, you’ll never think of a cookie in the same way.  

so after being a loyal lover of the macaron for many years, i was ecstatic to find a new bakery in hayes valley dedicated solely to the french macaron. when i first entered paulette, i didn’t know whether to think of it as an edible jewelry store or candy store for adults.  with delicate sandwich cookies displayed in glass cases like bright color jewels, it really is every girl’s dream come true.

two saturdays when i stopped in for my second visit, i got to sit down with the extended paulette family.  i picked up eight macarons (eaten all in one sitting) in unique flavors such as new orleans praline, violette casis and jasmine tea.  these traditional french pastries were light yet full of delicious flavor.  they also sent me away with some marriage freres tea, a french tea company that has been sourcing its tea leaves from asia since 1854.  some claim this is the best tea in the world, and paulette is one of the few places in san francisco to serve up these fragrant cups of warmth.  who can really argue with one of the finest teas in the world, paired with one of the finest parisian treats in san francisco? 

paulette macarons is located in hayes valley, 437 hayes street @ gough.

where to dine? an east coast food pilgrimage

i try to make it back to the east coast a few times a year - to see family, old friends but also of course, to eat.  while california has the east coast beat in the produce department, there are meals i miss dearly that only the east coast can offer me.  my  most lasting food memory will always be the hot-humid summers in maryland where my parents would bring home a bushel of blue crabs fished from the chesapeake, we'd cover our dining table in old copies of the washington post, roll up our sleeves and go to town with the old bay.  and then there were our many trips up to new york city, where all i experienced were the restaurants of chinatown (yes, i have visited many a cities with my family never doing one touristy thing except for visiting the city's chinatown). 

so, i will make my pilgrimage back east at the end of july and middle of august, going through maryland/washington, d.c., new york city and boston to recapture some of these food memories of my childhood.  my dad will indulge me with a bushel of blue crabs when i get home.  i'm sure i'll make it to many hole-in-the-wall dives in chinatown serving up steaming bowls of jook and noodles.  but i know there is so much undiscovered eating out there and i'm asking you all to help me come up with a list of new places to try out during my 15 days on the east coast.  your favorite fine-dining establishment in new york?  or best italian restaurant in boston's north end?  or the latest up-and-coming restaurant of d.c.'s budding food scene?   i'll put it on my list and let you know how it goes.