© 2024 WKNO FM
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

An Iconic French Treat

17 Berkshire

You don’t have to head to Paris to enjoy a macaron!

Memphis just got a new French bakery that specializes in this iconic pastry.

I stopped by 17 Berkshire in Overton Square to talk about this confection with Nuha Abuduhair, the owner and baker of this recently opened bakery and coffee shop.

So if you aren’t familiar with macarons, Nuha is happy to explain.

“Macarons are a type of European cookie that consistents of two meringue based shells. They have various fillings sandwiched in between them. They are made of egg whites, almond flour, and powdered sugar so they are naturally gluten-free.”

Macarons are not to be confused with Southern macaroons.

“So macarons are a type of sandwich cookie. You have a crispy exterior and some sort of filling makes it chewy on the inside.  And macaroons are probably what you’re used to your grandmother making with the coconut with the condensed milk or meringue.”

Macarons come in a variety of flavors. Some of the most popular include mocha, pistachio, lavender, rose, lemon, and salted caramel. At 17 Berkshire, Nuha offers a an assortment of flavors that rotates daily – so there always something new to try.

Making macarons requires patience and skill.

“I have always loved baking, especially pretty European pastries, so when I saw a recipe on line for them I made a batch and it worked. I figured they weren’t as hard as everyone made them seem. So then I made them a second time and they were a complete fail. Then it became my mission to master the art of the macaron.”

Once you try one of 17 Berkshire’s macarons, you’ll be glad she was up for the challenge!

This is Jennifer Chandler with The Weekly Dish. Bon Appetit.

For more information visit, www.17berkshire.com.

Jennifer Chandler graduated at the top of her class from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She is a full-time mom to two daughters in Memphis, Tennessee, and is a freelance food writer, restaurant consultant, and author of four cookbooks The Southern Pantry Cookbook, Simply Salads, Simply Suppers, and Simply Grilling.