Rich and sweet pieces hand-assembled together with a creamy filling. Probably the classiest desert option of all. A French speciality that has been around for over 500 years. You guessed it; we are talking about macarons, and it seems that everyone cannot stop talking about these delightful and delectable baked goods (including us!). What’s better then eating one (or ten!) of these bite sized goodies? Why, baking them, and then eating them. And for Valentine’s Day, the sweetest holiday of them all, we thought this would be a very special Valentine’s Date idea for you and your sweet partner. Ollia Macarons & Tea, located in trendy Mount Royal Village in Calgary, offers baking classes where you can learn how to make your own macarons in small groups. Not only will you have professional and hands-on instructions by the owner David, but you can also bring your own wine, enjoy the house blended organic teas and take up to 30 (each!) of your own baked macarons home. It’s the perfect recipe to make sweet memories this Valentine’s Day without worrying about planning the perfect date, and the best part? You and your sweetie get to enjoy the macarons you made for days to come. Most importantly, you get to spend time with your Valentine and have fun together! David will provide you with all the tips and tricks to achieve the perfect consistency of the shells and filling, so you will end up with the perfect macarons!
And if you think that your guy may not like the idea of a baking class, the owner and pastry chef is proud to confirm that his macaron baking has no gender stereotype and guys enjoy this just as much (if not more) then the fairer gender! David grew up in France and told us that both his mom and dad equally shared the kitchen duties. The experience of learning something new and spending time together is far more important to the attendants of the class. On another note, David and his team have come up with savoury macarons such as Wasabi & Sesame, Blue Cheese with Pear & Pecan & Fig & Balsamic; so there really is something for everyone, even those without a sweet tooth! If you would like to experience a complete, authentic French Macaron baking class, you can register at By Ollia. I hope you have fun at your next baking class, as you can see we certainly did!
Thank you to Ollia Macarons & Tea for sponsoring this post.
Photography Credit: Justine Milton
