Brandee's European Adventure - Part 11

I was wrong peoples,  Bran sent me more pictures from her adventure, so not pau yet.  Here is Part 11.


A week of Macarons, a trip to the Weiss chocolate factory, and a hidden waterfall in France.


This week is the last week before graduation, so I was excited to do Macarons and Charlottes. The French have this thing about Macarons, crispy meringue outside with amazing fillings on the inside. Chef Jocelyn had us make some amazing macaron flavors. The only type of Macarons I remember growing up eating were the coconut macaroons my grandpa loved to eat with ice cream. To me they tasted like cardboard, but he loved it. The French Macarons are quite temperamental, and hard to work with in warm climates like Hawaii. I have never tasted anything so melt in the mouth or like we say in Hawaii “broke the mouth” goodness. It was so amazing.


In the same week we took a shuttle to the Weiss chocolate factory. Once we got there we were greeted by the ladies giving us the tour and telling us about the history of the Weiss chocolate company. I felt like Lavern and Shirley in the outfit we had to wear before entering the factory. The factory was amazing, but I really felt sick from smelling chocolate. Can you imagine that! I still had a nice time. I think I was hoping for Willy Wonka to greet us with a bunch of Umpalupa’s behind him.

That weekend Giada (Italy) took us on a road trip to see a waterfall in Beaume. Once we got there you see the lookout, then you walk down to where the waterfall is. I never knew I would come all the way to France to see a waterfall. It was breathtaking, so beautiful, but very cold. It was worth the drive to find it.


Brandee


Passion fruit macarons with chocolate ganach filling


Little charlottes made into swans


Heart-shaped macarons


My charlotte cake with macaron swan


Our buffet display


Mini desserts


Noam and I on the shuttle to the Weiss Chocolate Factory


Astrid (Canada) and Christy (Italy)


Kate and I in the Laverne and Shirley look


Chocolate caramel


The factory


Outside next to a chocolate couture gown


Me in the gift shop


Niki, Kate, Giada, Andrea and I treking to the waterfall


Giada and Niki


Niki, Me and Kate in front of the waterfall


Me in front of Beume Waterfall


Roz posing


White chocolate


Giada (Italy), Paulo (Brazil), Flo (France) and I


Chef Jocelyn


Giada and Andrea at the top


Giada posing


Trail to the waterfall


The three amigos


Resting at the end