Melbourne Cup Tipping the Macarons Way

graphite & watercolour illustration on cotton paper, 6.75" x 4.5" [17 x 12 cm]

It's Melbourne Cup Day ~ so let's eat macarons!  At around 3:00pm AEST, the horse race that stops the nation will stop the nation.  It's the richest and most prestigious "two-mile" handicap in the world.  All over Australia, we're celebrating ~ it's a festive, feel-good day, whether you typically follow the gee-gees or not.  Those like me {clueless} have 'a little flutter' and put one dollar each way bets on horses based on their names, colours, numbers, and touching stories.  The serious types will study form guides and videos and check the weather reports in hopes of picking the winning trifecta from a field of 24 horses {Australian, New Zealand and a bunch of internationals as well} over the generally-untested 3,200 metres.  And inevitably, at least one of the three place-getters will be a 'roughie'.  {Hub uncharitably refers to such rogues as 'nags' as he tears his slips into little tiny pieces afterwards.}  Office sweepstakes proliferate, fashions include high heels and hats or fascinators ~ not to mention what the women are wearing.  Any food that's half-passable when eaten with bubbly is the snack of choice for the day. 

And so, we arrive at today's macarons ~ delightful any time, but especially so with champagne.  Though I'll be eating the local variety made here in Brisbane, these are of the genu-ine Parisian persuasion ~ a napkinful of Gérard Mulot macarons, photographed by Virginia shortly before scrompfing them.  What's that, Virginia? Oh. Sorry, I meant, "slowly savouring them".  My guess on the flavours? Chocolate and caramel.  Or maybe rum & raisin and coffee.  Taking this as 'a sign' from above, I was going to place my bet based on which of the Cup runners are chocolate or caramel coloured.  Turns out that didn't narrow the field much.  Enjoy your Cup Day, whatever you're doing!   {Thank you for the mouthwatering photo, Virginia!!}