Sadaharu Aoki Macarons!!!...<3<3<3...

...the time has come...for my SADAHARU AOKI/macarons post!!! Now, according to my notes these are the flavors: pistacchio, caramel salé, violette, chocolat, fraise, framboise, pêche canalle (beats me but sounds like fish!), sesame noir, chocolat umé (prune salée), macha...there were tons, bite me if i didn't get it all!!

*golf clap*, *scattered golf clap*, *bowing and waving of the hand feverishly*. *ahem*.
So somebody on Flickr has pretty badass pics of the macarons big & small, with fresh fruis and alll!! ^_^ I nicked these next two off of Canon S3 IS in France's flickr b/c the shots were taken in the Jardin du Luxembourg (about a 3-5 min walk from Rue de Vaugirard where the St-Germain-des-Prés outpost for Sadaharu Aoki is...)

Anyhoodlekins, one notable thing is how DELICATE the shells were...AND SMOOTH! ^_^, and it was sweet and punchy but not saccharine and underwhelming as much as the rest of Paris and London was. :P

AND THEN THERE WERE GIANT MACARONS!! ^_^ my GOD it was glorious...I didn't eat it. I actually had another pastry upon recommendation, complete with a little Macha Green Tea macaron clinging on to the ample, singular, bosom of the lovely Macha Duomo via swirl of red bean paste. Dramatic? Yes. Glorious? YES. MY GOD..........yes.
(*whispers*: i love you. sweet, sweet dome and cancer looking/budding protrusion ^_^) I also had the house tea (aweeesoem). Here are pics of other ish I got--financiers (cakey things). What I didn't get were my own pics of the macarons (melted upon flight back to Oxford) AND the 2 citron tea cake, and earl gray cake :( I *had* to eat it b/c I had a week and a half of work @ Oxford before flying back to ny OH the BURDEN of eating it all so it wouldn't perish ^_^
I don't particularly care to post any other pictures of Sadaharu Aoki. just go to the site. oh the PICTURES. okay maybe one (or two) more... citrus/macadamia duomo and some bon bons! ^_^
Oh who am i kidding--here's some more! little sampler plates :P (last 4 pics courtesy of the sadaharuaoki site)

What's the scoop on hippo poop?....

..beats the poop outta me, but I like ze hippos w/ ze wafery outside and creamy hazelnut chocolate inside with EYES drawn on top!! :)

Originally found these in East London w/ Albee @ the local Sainsbury market in milk chocolate and white thingies around it. Then in Paris at the Odeon station vending machine on the way o Versailles in white chocolate with milk chocolate dippings!

...AND THEN AT FAIRWAAAAAY!!!!! :) in German packaging. from an Italian candy co (Ferrero--makers of ferrero rocher, nutella, Kinder, ...and TicTacs!! :)) and on my windowsill :) with its head bitten off :P

a review of chocolates and candies from abroad is in order--not to mention a long overdue entry on the fantasmacularosity that is Sadaharu Aoki. :)

Khyber Pass + JASmart's Relaxation Cake...

...was near St. Mark's today dropping off my old powerbook to Julia @ Cooper's Square...decided to go for a little solo dinner as is my way when I want a little rejuvenation...

Last time I went to Khyber Pass (afghani food) was with Michael sometime in May or June this year--it was really empty, and for St Mark's well...that's just pretty damn surprising [granted it was a Sunday]. The food then was great, the service then was shit...both of which remained the same this time around.

I got the Shireen Palow: saffron rice with citrus zest, almonds, and pistachio with Cornish hen (kebab style). Also had dill with parsley, and some kind of spices maybe paprika. The Cornish hen is/was tender, moist inside, outside perfectly browned, golden and glistening. Hint of lemon, onions slightly cooked was also sweet but it contrasted with the sweetness from the saffron rice. Big notice was the almond flavor, and how good the citrus zest was--didn't have that bite/kick to it anymore, just almost like a candied feel.

Went to JASmart after and perused the sweets section as always. Saw this version of those little swiss rolls/cakes they always have and are always a go. Caught my eye b/c it reminded me of the 20 layer crepe cake @ Lady M's on the UES when Mike & I went up on our fancy-cakes hunt (I always eat well when Michael visits haha--and end up buying expensive shoes ;)) Now back to the JASmart cake...

I'm gonna need u to click on this and read what it says...it's almost "engrish.com" worthy, but a little more poignant and encouraging :P...