Joyeux Jour du Macaron! (In other words, happy Macaron Day!) Yeap. Our food-obsessed world has the macaron covered, too (as with many other foods), by dedicating one whole day to it. In cities across the world — from Paris and London to New York City, Toronto, Budapest — patisseries come together to provide the public with free macarons (in limited quantities, though). And 25 percent of all additional macaron sales will become proceeds for charitable organizations. Though it’s not really celebrated here, it doesn’t mean we can’t do much. Instead, here’s a tribute to the macaron, with awesome facts about it. (Don’t forget to grab some macs to munch on afterwards! We need a little dose of macaron love every now and then, don’t we?) #1 Nowadays, they tend to get fancy, but earlier macarons were made of just almond flour, sugar, and egg whites. No filling, whatsoever. #2 Did you know that the macaron also goes by other names: the Gerbet or, simply, Parisian macaron? #3 Don’t confuse yourself between macaron and macaroon, because they are two different things.

While both start off with a meringue base (a mixture of sugar and egg whites beaten until whipped cream-like), the macaron is French and has finely ground almonds folded in, among other things, before baking into a glossy, smooth-topped, ruffled disk of delicate cookie. The macaroon, on the other hand, is American and has shredded coconut folded in before getting dropped onto baking sheets and baked until crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle. #4 Yes, we just said the macaron is French, but it didn’t start out that way! It was first made in Italy, and then introduced to France circa 1533 by the chef of Italian noblewoman Catherine de’ Medici, at the time of her marriage to the Duc d’Orleans, who became king of France as Henry III in 1547. #5 The term macaron shares the same origin as macaroni, the name for a type of pasta, with both meaning “fine dough” in Italian! #6 It was only in the early 20th century did the macaron evolve to become a double-decker affair. Ladurée, a historic and internationally sought-after Parisian pastry boutique and tea salon, was the first to sandwich luscious ganache between two pieces of “bare” macarons. #7 In pop culture, while the cupcake got popular overnight with its debut in Sex and the City, the macaron burst into fame after its debut on Gossip Girl. #8 In Paris, a pastry lovers’ paradise, the macaron withstands the test of time as the best-seller, beating tough competition from other favorites like pain au chocolat, éclair, and canelé! That’s maca-power! Find out more best yong tau foo restaurant Hunt for the hottest French restaurant