Thursday 19 March 2009

Macarons at Pigeon Hole


If you want to eat something that absolutely blows your mind - pop into PH and get yourself a macaron (or two, or three, as Rita did yesterday).
I've read quite a lot on mainland food blogs over the past year about these macarons, with the world-weary cynic in Rita thinking "here we go again" with the younger generation 'discovering' something new! But wait......try one of Jay's little mouthfuls of delight, then tell me you are still a hardened cynic!

He is charging $2.50 for one of his macarons, and let me tell you it will be the best $2.50 you ever spent in your life.
It was divine, and I'm returning today to grab whatever stock he has left in them, so you'd better be quick!
Posted on by Rita
36 comments

36 comments:

Tassiegal said...

Have you tried his Kingstons??? Thats what makes me buy up big.

cookie said...

Does that mean you'd pass on a cupcake for a macaron Rita?

Rita said...

Cookie - this question has plagued me for 24 hours since I sampled one of Jay's macarons!
I think maybe yes, but having said that, if I was confronted by a plate with both in front of me, you would see BOTH disappear at the same time!

Rita said...

TG - no way - I'm never passing the macarons in favour of a kingston (whatever that is!!)
BTW - where are your posts?

Anonymous said...

Would these be the same as macaroons, Rita? Same problem as Queensalnders who say Marones instead of Maroons.
The ever-so-well-spoken gentleperson notices these things.
I think plain macaroons are far better than choc ones, though and I've swallowed a few.

Rita said...

Debate on that very same issue has been rife online as well Sir G - and yes, I have been swayed by the macaron division, and amended my word from macaroon to macaron!

Whatever, I LOVE JAY'S! I used to make them regularly but never chocolate ones.

Anonymous said...

Well I won't buy them until they get it right. (I won't buy them anyway. Choc macaroon just ain't proper.)

Rita said...

It's OK Sir G - I bought all their stock this morning - all 5 of them - and loved every mouthful as I slowly meted out my stock of them to myself throughout the day! You need never fear having those yukky chokky macarons forced down your throat!

Anonymous said...

Pardon my ignorance Rita, but where is Pigeon Hole?

Rita said...

That's fine Anon - it's at 89 Goulburn St, at the bottom of Molle St. It's a little cafe with great cafe food. Hard to park at but that's OK.
Pop in and try it one day.

Anonymous said...

Ooh, I have been looking for a local source of macarons, will have to check out the PH. Has anyone spotted them anywhere else?

Traditional French macarons are quite different to the more familiar coconutty macaroons that have been popular in australian kitchens for many years.

This link explains it well: http://www.cakespy.com/2008/04/in-defense-of-coconut-macaroon-ode-to.html

Nola said...

Um?

http://onceawaitress.blogspot.com/2009/02/macaroon.html

Anonymous said...

Totally off the macaron subject - a group of us have just got back from eating at Mussel Boys at Taranna after a days tuna fishing off Tasman Island.
Unfortunately absolutely nothing good to say. Tired decor, scuff marks on walls and doors, looked really run down. Menu read well, but didn't go even close to delivering. Food bland and poorly presented. All of this could have been excused if the service was better but it was average.

Anonymous said...

BTW - we rated it 2/10 - a really unfortunate end to a great day of fishing.

Anonymous said...

To 'Um' http://onceawaitress.blogspot.com/2009/02/macaroon.html on the subject for macarons.
Great, you wrote a post on them. So have many many people before you. Go read Duncan Markham's prolific writings on Macarons & you'll notice he's above backlinking to his many posts.

Anonymous said...

Anon, step off.

Of course you probably think all bloggers believe themselves to be the centre of the universe, this is not always the case. I was more refering to the fact that Rita has refered to "the world-weary cynic in Rita thinking 'here we go again' with the younger generation 'discovering' something new!"

I just thought it a little tounge in cheek.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and of course I know many other people wrote about macarons. It's called research, idiot.

Anonymous said...

Off topic but commenting on Mussel Boys, I have also heard some unfavourable reports of this place. A shame because the lady that runs it seems to be trying hard.

Claire said...

I love macarons and have looked everywhere for them. I can make them but never tasted them. I flew to sydney and bought some at the Lindt shop. I'm off to PH

Anonymous said...

Off the subject again, I was just about to book for lunch at Mussel Boys, Tarana, for tomorrow, when I came across these comments. I now think I'll give them a miss.I'm going to a concert at Koonya at 11am tomorrow and am looking for somewhere to lunch on the way back to Hobart. Any suggestions?

Anonymous said...

Why dont you give them a try anyway? Everyone has a bad day & perhaps this was the case on the times that a few people visited, hence their comments.
Anon 2, you should give them the benefit of the doubt & see for yourself, we all get it wrong sometimes.

Tassiegal said...

Rita- posts now updated - however your blog roll refuses to.

Anonymous said...

Re my previous comments on Mussel Boys - Anon2, There was enough staff there to get it right, and enough time to get it right, as it wasn't busy - but they still didn't, so we wouldn't give them a second chance.

For instance they had a display of home made sauces, jams etc there. I asked waitperson if that display worked for them, do they sell etc.
Her response was a robotic, yes, we have this chutney, this jam etc - hadn't listened to the question and didn't respond to what I actually asked.

I was asking because I was interested to see if people show interest in the product, and do they sell, not what was on display as I could see what was there.

She was in robot mode, didn't listen & gave me the answer she'd normally give when someone asked her about the sauces etc. Disappointing. Can't suggest another place down that way either, as we had been recommended Mussel Boys by others who said it was great.

Anonymous said...

I might try Mussel Boys but only if they call their cakes macaroons.

Rita said...

TG - so sorry about my blog roll - don't know what's up with it! I read your new post after seeing you write the comment here, but it's still not showing up that you've got the new post up!
I'll do the usual thing and ignore it, and hope it'll realise it's failing me, and rectify that.

Rita said...

BTW Cookie - I lunched today at Taste at Bahai, and had myself another (reminder) cupcake - mmmm, it'd be a toss-up between Karen's cupcake and Pigeon Hole's macaron!
Lunch was STUNNING! And they were fully booked! I pinched a booked table for a quick 'gobble and go' lunch.

Soup of the day last Saturday at RVL also was stunning. Lentil and Coriander, from memory, and it was breath-taking. I went home and made my interpretation the next day. Almost as good as Steve's.

Anonymous said...

Rita, you have the best life!!!

Rita said...

You betta believe it, Anon 5.50! I eat well wherever I go too! What a bonus!
Tomorrow sees another review too. Can't wait!

Anonymous said...

But have you had the nougat at PH? Talk about UHMAYZING!!!!

Tassiegal said...

Anon (8:18) were you sitting at the big table at the front around 1:30 this afternoon? The two ladies there were raving about the nougat. Rita you were right about those macaroons - I had one, and then another, and then bought 2 for a friend. Next is to try Jays new granola - apparently its now sweeter and they are using different oats.

Anonymous said...

Just realised no body explained what a Kingston was to you Rita!
You can buy a packet at a supermarket, two oat based biscuits sandwiching a layer of chocolate mmm yum. Jay makes them with anzac biscuits and an awesome chocolate

Anonymous said...

I would like to point out that the Mussel Boys is for sale, so anon why dont you buy it and prove to all how much better a job you can do of running it.

rachelst said...

HURRAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Macarons in Hobart! I have been trying to make them recently..tricky little things....will check out PH as it is just around the corner ;)...and i must say i dig the lighting in the window...

Anonymous said...

Hi Rita,

Have you tried Macarons by Ruby, avaliable at Salad Bowl South Hobart and Your Habitat Bodum Cafe Liverpool St?

Rita said...

No Anon - I haven't seen ANY macarons at Salad Bowl, which is my local! I'll keep an eye out for them and buy one when I see one! Love a macaron! Thanks for the tipoff!

Deb C said...

Had two yesterday from the Salad Bowl (plus their lamb korma which was lovely...) it's my local too since I work up the road from the Pickled Frog!