Restaurant Openings: Macaron and Eclairs

Good days are made from trips to places like Macaron & Eclairs, a new two-trick culinary creation of an Australian and Hong Kong partnership. First to hit the eyes upon entry are the macarons (RMB12). Blueberry blackcurrant, Bailey’s coffee and other flavors tried to dazzle us, but in the end we chose the earl grey and the rum and raisin. The outside shells weren’t especially crisp and the insides more soft than chewy, but the flavors were delicate and the rum and raisin particularly good if your tooth is a sweet one.

These, however, all seemed to pale in comparison to the array of delicate, beautifully decorated éclairs (RMB 25–28) lined up out beneath. Making a decision was almost impossible. Although the two ladies behind the counter fizzed up with excitement when they both said the blueberry cream cheese éclair was their favorite, we went our own way and chose the rose cranberry and the pistachio strawberry instead.

Both were divine, but the rose cranberry took the prize. Soft choux pastry wrapped around a light, rose-flavored pastry cream, a lollipop pink icing ran across the top, and a sprinkling of tiny rose petals and cranberries finished it off. Every bite was sublime. Only guilt stopped us from ordering a second round, but as we walked out the door we were already plotting which ones to come back for.

Macaron & Eclairs
Daily 10.30am-9pm. 6A Gongti Donglu, ChaoyangDistrict (6500 6086)
朝阳区工体东路甲6号
1km west of Tuanjiehu station (Line 10)

Also try: Comptoirs de France, L’Atelier

A version of this article appears in the January 2014 issue of the Beijinger

Photo: Joey Guo