La Patisserie Chouquette celebrates National Macaron Day tomorrow, one day early

La Patisserie Chouquette is celebrating National Macaron Day in style. The Botanical Heights bakery is hosting its annual celebration of the petite French cookies this weekend.

Chouquette, which is known for its French sweets, will hold a macaron celebration this Saturday, March 17 during its regular business hours, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Bakery-goers can choose from more than 30 flavors, including white chocolate grapefruit, the “Bey,” or a Beyoncé-inspired lemonade macaron, chicken and waffles, pistachio cherry limeade, birthday cake, mango chili lime, Cheetos, vanilla bean, and mojito.

Cheetos, wedding cake, and vanilla bean are three of the most popular flavors, pastry chef and owner Simone Faure said. The shop makes its own vanilla extract for the vanilla bean macarons. “For a lot of people this will be their first time trying macarons, so they want to go with a familiar sounding item,” Faure said.

Chouquette has hosted a celebration for Macaron Day since it opened five years ago. Last year, there was a line out the door from the beginning to the very end of the day. “It’s important for everyone to realize when they come that it’s a sport,” Faure said.

The shop has revised its plan of attack based on last year’s celebration. Employees will hand out sushi-style menus to visitors waiting in line, so they can check what they want before they get to the counter. Flavors will be crossed off a board once they run out, so people at the back of the line can see.

Macarons cost $2 a piece (flavors are listed below). All the cookies are gluten-free except the chicken and waffles flavor.

Regular customers can still get the bakery’s signature items including the Darkness croissant the day of the party, but all items will be sold to-go. There will not be any table service at this year’s National Macaron Day fête. Many visitors take their pastries and eat them picnic-style, Faure said.

“Come early, wear comfy shoes, relax and enjoy. We’re making thousands and thousands of macarons. We started a week ago. My arthritis is on point,” Faure said.