BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW
Who could have imagined that a simple recipe for a cookie made of egg whites, sugar, almond powder and jam would come to represent the elegance of French cuisine to the world? Unlikely as it may seem, this is exactly what has happened with the Macaron.
Despite the simplicity of this French confection, there is some controversy regarding the Macaron's origins. Some trace the recipe back to the 16th century, when Italian pastry chefs working for Catherine de Medici arrived in France for her marriage to Henry II. At this time, however, the Macaron was served in pairs, with the filling on the side. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the sandwich-style Macaron as we know it today, which is sometimes called the "Paris Macaron", was invented. Today, there are a number of regional deviations in the Macaron recipe in France, and also a wide and ever increasing number of varieties, from the traditional raspberry, chocolate and almond, to more exotic flavours such as green tea and marmite. While the cookies are now available worldwide, the best known Macaron bakers remain in Paris.
The City of Light boasts numerous bakeries famous for their Macarons, and none more so than the Laduree chain of pastry shops, which has been known for its Macaron recipe for more than 150 years. But in France the ubiquity and popularity of these pastries is assured; Macarons are even sold in McDonald's!
MORE ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE
It's hard to say what is a better social experience, chatting with friends over tea and sweets, or kicking back with a great cocktail. At this gourmet macaron and martini class at Ohlala-Macarons, Lime&Tonic members can now enjoy both at once! You and your friends will be treated to a lesson in how to make the classic French pastry cookie from Ohlala's expert pastry chefs, and then an expert mixologist will teach you how to shake up some fantastic martinis.
As you and your friends get settled with a cup of tea and a selection of flaky, chewy macarons, you'll get a lesson on the history of the famous French dessert and the martini cocktails, before watching an expert pastry maker put together the perfect macaron with ganache filling. Then comes the moment you've been waiting for, as you'll make your own packet of ten macarons in your choice of colours and flavours. These you can enjoy in the moment or save for later, because next you'll be working with Ohlala's mixologists, who also work at some of London's top cocktail bars, including Bodega Negra, LAB Bar, and Quo Vardis. They will show you how to make a vodka and chocolate martini, followed by a Lychee martini! The sweet Asian fruit is the perfect way to take the edge off the vodka and acts as a great balance to macarons. As you're savouring your cocktail creation, you'll chat with your friends and with Ohlala's pasty chefs and mixologists, who will explain some of the common pitfalls of the culinary and cocktail arts. Before you go, you'll receive a full recipe card and a suppliers list, so you can repeat this fantastic cocktail and macaron experience again, anytime you like!
Two things that help Ohlala-Macarons to stand out as premium pastry makers in London are the quality and the variety of their ingredients. Ohlala's pastry chefs use organic ingredients wherever possible in their macarons, and offer a wide variety of flavours and colours. Their mixologists use only the finest spirits in their delicious cocktails. Whether you're a budding chef or a cocktail lover looking for new recipes, or you just want a unique way to have some fun with friends, a luxury macaron and martini class with Ohlala-Macarons in the heart of London is sure to be a hit.
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