By Susie Timm
Macaroons. My thoughts on this old-timey treat have often ranged from “blech” to “dry and a choking hazard.” I’ve passed on many a cookie tray that included these little balls of coconut puck.
I am pleased to report however, that I have now consumed a macaroon so incredibly delicious and amazing that it has cured me of all previous macaroon mishaps of my past.
Black Jet Baking Company operates a cozy stall in the foodie haven of San Francisco known as the Ferry Building.
On my recent journey to the Fancy Food Show, my dear friends Keith, Brad and I headed to check out the Saturday Farmer’s Market at the Embarcadero. In the process, I was delighted to show them the Mecca that is the Ferry Building.
We wandered around for about 30 minutes until we happened upon a small stand down a corridor called serving homemade pop tarts, devil dogs and other childhood favorite treats redux. I settled upon a salted chocolate chip cookie while Keith and Brad spotted a jar of macaroons. I will admit that I would NEVER have opted to taste a macaroon. I rolled my eyes at their pastry selection and we pressed on.
We wandered around the market munching our chosen snacks. The oohs and ahs emanating from Brad and Keith as they savored the macaroons were audible to say the least.
I sheepishly asked for a bite. A small angel appeared with a trumpet, the skies parted and all macaroon experiences of my past were instantly swept away.
These macaroons are unlike anything coconut I have ever tasted. Caramelized on the outside with a satisfying crunchy crust, the inside reminds me of freshly baked, coconut cream pie. They are in a word: outstanding.
We savored. We mused. We shed a few tears. And we promptly went straight back to the booth and purchased all the remaining macaroons Black Jet had in stock.
For the next 2 days we talked about macaroons. We wrote haikus to the macaroons. I sent an email and a tweet to the owner of Black Jet Bakery, Gillian Sara Shaw, asking if she would ship us macaroons. I used Instagram to edit a photo of a macaroon so that I could post the golden love nugget in all its glory. But mostly, we contemplated when we could return to the Ferry Building to indulge yet again.
That day was today. We hopped in a cab and made our way through the much-less crowded Ferry Building. We arrived at Black Jet and to our intense dismay no macaroons were present. We were informed that they did not have macaroons today and were sent away with our heads hung to our chests.
The lovely lady working likely thought we were losing our minds as looks of intense pain and agony crossed our weary faces.
We trudged away. We got about 10 feet and were chased down by Miss Black Jet who informed us that indeed, they had macaroons today and she was sorely mistaken. Crisis averted. Macaroon Meltdown 2012 did not have to ensue.
So as I travel back to Phoenix with a box of 10 macaroons (nicknamed “Crack-aroons by locals) safely tucked in Keith’s carryon, I am struck with a most important question: Do they ship?
Been there, done that! Divine, aren’t they!