French macaroons and more
Opera Patisserie sweetens the food scene
by Kelly Davis

French macaroons have landed in San Diego. As far as I know—and I've been looking—one could not buy the delicate cookies within 100 miles of San Diego's city center. (Perhaps I've overlooked some Orange County bakery, but I doubt it.)

Two years ago, San Diego's Opera Patisserie, a dessert caterer since 2002, started up an online retail store, from which you could order macaroons, but there was no bricks-and-mortar location. Then, a few months ago, a friend with whom I share a fondness for macaroons (she'll have them sent express from Paris if need be) told me she could no longer find them on the Opera site. That's because Opera had bigger things in the works. Desperately needing a macaroon fix, last month I checked back with Opera's website and saw these magical words: "Now open. Our new French café in Downtown San Diego."
I drove to the café the next day, located at 1354 Fifth Ave. between Bankers Hill and downtown. I convinced myself the macaroons would be the one thing not on the menu—because it would be too perfect if they were. But there they were on a banner just outside the patisserie's front door in all their pastel-hued beauty, available individually or by the box. I bought two boxes, a bargain at $7.50.

First, some background on French macaroons, which are not to be confused with the tasty yet pedestrian coconut macaroon. French macaroons are an art form, difficult to make, comprising two crisp, airy almond-and-egg-white based cookies that sandwich a flavored filling, like raspberry marmalade, chocolate ganache or pistachio crème. Done right, they're flaky on the outside and slightly chewy in the middle. Anyone who's tried one falls in love.
There's far more to Opera Patisserie than perfect macaroons, however. There's a large menu of sandwiches, quiches and "French-style pizza."But it's the desserts that you're there for. Assembled like pieces of art in the front display case, you'll find six or seven different individual pastries, cheesecakes, several varieties of tea cakes, chocolate truffles and, of course, those macaroons.

For now, Opera's hours are limited, perhaps so owners Vincent Garcia and Thierry Cahez (the charming French guy who'll likely help you with your selection) can get a read on their clientele; the café closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and doesn't open on Sundays. So go there for a dessert before dinner, or a dinner of dessert to enjoy in the pleasant bistro-like setting. Pick up a box of mini pastries ($11) to take to a dinner party or to enjoy at home.

For around $20, I got three individual pastries and a box of a mini French pastries to take home. That purchase fed three people with enough left over for two more evenings of nibbling. Outstanding was the flourless chocolate cake. The "Adelia”—marscapone cheese layered with red berry cream and almond sponge cake—was my favorite among the mini pastries. Oh heck, they were all good. Stunningly good and pretty to look at, too. You can browse the selections yourself at www.operadesserts.com (most, but not everything, pictured is available at the café). Or, stop by the café and chat with Thierry about what's what—and don't forget the macaroons.

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