Macarons the new Cupcake?

Ever since my friend sung the praises of the macaron during a Peekaboo styling photo shoot and my Chouquette goodie breakfast at Black Pearl with Maggie Beer HERE I have a) wanted to taste a macaron and b) get to Chouquette.

Perfect combination for after lunch treats at polo I'd say!

So my first experience with a macaron was the flavour of Lemon and Basil. And it was magnificent! I can now understand why some people claim that macarons are the new cupcake. I say - Why not have both!

In a post by over at Adventures of a Wandering Nyonya which I found while googling 'cupcakes and macarons' (I know how very Confessions of a Shopaholic of me?)

The world it seemed has gone mad about macarons. I don’t blame her, I am too. Cupcake craze is yesterday – today they are these dainty sweets. Both are rather similar, pretty to look at and heavenly in taste – although not entirely the same thing, one is a cake while the other is , well a macaron, light as a feather and yet it can satisfy your sweet craving to the fullest.


I have to admit I am more fascinated by the way they look and I love their diverse fillings and somehow they don’t feel as heavy as your regular cupcake. I guess it does depend on what craving you are trying to fulfill. They are made of sugar, egg whites and finely ground almonds and you can add a variety of flavours and colours to them. As for the filling, any combination you can think of , I supposed goes!

So there you have it! You read it here first. I ate a macaron, at the Polo on a sunny winter's day in 2010.

Would love to hear what everyone else thinks about this? Is the macaron the new cupcake? I am including them in a little dessert table I am creating for next month, but of course there will be cupcakes. Lemon and cream cheese cupcakes to be exact!

Picnic @ Polo

So one event down and I only just have a breath and then I want to organise another.

I am thinking of a picnic at the polo again this year. And the 'man' doesn't like the idea. "Give yourself a break, you will end up doing everything again"

I just wish that I had more friends with the passion, style, commitment and eye for detail that I have. Alas, not!

So maybe I will, or maybe I wont.

But if it do, I have this idea of having individual little picnic hampers for each person.

Everyone would arrive and some mini savoury muffins, little pikelets and perhaps a little sweet slice would be served along with tea and coffee and some juice for the little ones.

Then once everyone is settled in with blankets and chairs set up and the games commence the corks get popped and the fun really begins!

For those who are yet to experience a day at the polo it is similar to a day at the races except you don’t wear heels, lots of people take children and there is an air of casual sophistication. (well for most of the day) you might do a couple of laps of the field while watching the games and the highlight of the day (for some) is the competition to find the lucky horseshoe on the field while stopping the divots – yes, very pretty woman!

So my idea of food this year would be something along the lines of:

Individual little picnic hampers for each person to grab and tour the field.

~

A small baguette filled with premium small goods, salads and cheese

or maybe a selection of yummy finger sandwiches.

~

200ml Bottle of Veuve for the big people(although these are hard to come by so it may need to be Moet) or little lemonade bottles filled with juice for the little people

with a straw to match for delicate drinking of both.

~

Little snippets of cheeses sourced (probably) from Black Pearl Epicure with some lavosh crisp bread.

~

And a little napkin of course.

Back at the ‘camp’ on return would be a little dessert table with all sorts of treats, some espresso coffee and tea (I have a caterers thermos for these occasions), and of course cupcakes and more champagne.

I love these little lunch boxes which Sharnel has found. SWEET! (I am always stealing her finds - but they are so fantastic and I love them all) I am going to start calling her Shmartha!

From Martha Stewart - For the little ones to have their own little picnic.

I do like the hessian fabric runner.... maybe a little too rustic though.

Very lemon and lime - nice. But a little too elegant for polo.

  

Cliche I know, but I think a very Ralph Lauren / Country Road / Hampton's scheme would work really well.  But what I am NOT going for is a red, white and blue Star spangled banner look! If anyone sees anything like this, please send it my way!

Now THIS is a picnic basket!

If you would like to know how to make a tablecloth into a picnic basket, (one does question why?)

Martha Stewart can show you how HERE

Motorline BMW Cup - 22 August 2010

Mercedes Cup - 19 September 2010

So I guess you just have to decided if you are a BMW or a Mercedes girl!

If you would like to know more about a Brisbane Polo Club's Motorline BMW Cup go HERE, for what to expect at a day at the polo go HERE if you would like to read Martha Stewart's latest article regarding polo go HERE