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Macaron Day / Zumboron Day 2011: Adriano Zumbo Pâtissier at the Star

If the size of the queue at Adriano Zumbo’s Patisserie at the Star was an indication, you’d think Macaron Day had come and gone. Blink, or take a couple of quick snaps and you’ll find yourself at the front of the queue at the entrance to the neon-lit wonka-esque incarnation of Zumbo’s latest venture.

Zumboron Day - Macaron Day

Rebranded as Zumboron Day, Macaron Day began as a celebration of Adriano’s birthday which falls in early November. This year, the date was moved to 27 November presumably as he is touring the country promoting the release of his book. But the lack of slow moving and snaking queues that have become a trademark of previous Macaron Days may be further proof that macarons are no longer the flavour of the day. Or it could be the location at The Star that was a deterrent as many people are opposed to stepping anywhere near a casino.

Zumboron Day - Macaron Day
Short queue

Zumboron Day - Macaron Day
In case of macaron emergency, break glass

Zumboron Day - Macaron Day
The Zumbo bathtub

At Gourmantic, we don’t follow food fads. We are known to have a sweet tooth that likes to sink into macarons every so often, be it the heart-shaped macarons on Valentine’s Day, fusion macarons from Café Cre Asion, macs from Baroque Patisserie or Ladurée in Paris.

Zumboron Day - Macaron Day

We gave 13 Zumborons the taste test (from left to right).

1. Blackened Vanilla (charcoal taste) 2. Bloody Mary (contains alcohol but could only taste pickled celery and pepper) 3. Blueberry Lavender (fragrant, delicate flavours, a good balance between the blueberry and lavender) 4. Butterscotch Caramel (finger licking good) 5. Fig and Honey (very sweet, strong fig and honey flavours) 6. Gin & Tonic (floral taste, more like a Hendrick’s Gin and Tonic) 7. Ginger (good ginger bite) 8. Mandarin and Tonka (good citrus flavour) 9. Mango Black Pepper (very mild mango flavour and not much bite from the pepper) 10. Mont Blanc (very little flavour, just a creamy ganache, disappointing) 11. Pandan & Coconut (predominantly coconut) 12. Salted Butter Popcorn (slippery on the outside, more butter flavour than popcorn) 13. Mojito (good lime and mint flavours)

Zumboron Day - Macaron Day

The long queue may be absent at The Star, and with it the ambience and anticipation of the colours, shapes and flavours of the macarons but service was very efficient. You’re given a pen and a flyer with all the macaron flavours. You make your choice and pay and in five minutes, you are presented with a box of macarons in the order that they appear on the flyer.

Macarons may no longer be considered the flavour of the day but trends are best left to fashion.

Adriano Zumbo Pâtissier
The Star Casino Food Court
80 Pyrmont St
Pyrmont, NSW 2009

About the author

Corinne Mossati

Corinne Mossati is a drinks writer, author of GROW YOUR OWN COCKTAIL GARDEN, SHRUBS & BOTANICAL SODAS and founder/editor of Gourmantic, Cocktails & Bars and The Gourmantic Garden. She has been writing extensively about spirits, cocktails, bars and cocktail gardening in more recent years. She is a spirits and cocktail competition judge, Icons of Whisky Australia nominee, contributor to Diageo Bar Academy, cocktail developer and is named in Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List. Her cocktail garden was featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and has won several awards. She is a contributor to Real World Gardener radio program and is featured in several publications including Pip Magazine, Organic Gardener, Australian Bartender and Breathe (UK). Read the full bio here.

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