Have you ever wondered how to make macarons?  You know, those almost-too-pretty-to-eat French confections that melt in your mouth?  When I first heard that Ollia Macarons & Tea were offering macaron classes, I thought “what a fantastic bachelorette alternative for a bride and her bridesmaids”!  I had to see what they were all about so big thanks to Lindsay and David for inviting me.

If you haven’t already been, Ollia is an adorable macaron and tea boutique in Mount Royal Village, just off of 17th Avenue SW.  Their shop is a contemporary and delightful, not unlike their macarons.

Chef David took the students through all of the steps of making the perfect macaron.  He’s warm, welcoming (patient) and exudes a passion for his craft.  I loved hearing tales of his youth in Brittany and how Ollia came to be in Calgary.

And voilà, the perfect macaron.

Here’s what the 2.5-3 hr class included:

• Learn a little bit about the history of the macaron, how to properly macaronage, tips & tricks for getting the perfect shell, flavour creation, and troubleshooting.
• Drink tea from Ollia’s line of premium organic loose leaf teas
• Take home your own box of macarons at the end of the night.

Thanks to Ollia for inviting me to their Saturday evening class.  I highly recommend it.

Planning a celebration with your bridesmaids?  Here are ideas for a Stampede-style brunch, if you’d like to see.

“How to make macarons” captured by Calgary Wedding Photographer – Tara Whittaker.