Daldang (Auckland CBD, New Zealand)
Do you know what Factcaron is? I guess we have the same answer until my daughter introduced me to it several months ago. While it may look French these sweet delights are a South Korean creation, it was the Koreans answer to the world-renowned dessert brands like Laduree, Pierre Herme and Hugo & Victor where they presented a similar confection but in a bigger and fatter fashion.
Called “ttung-carons” or “fatcarons“, is the Koreans local adaptation of the popular French Macaron which was largely driven by social media like Instagram and YouTube. There Korean Macarons basically has a much thicker filling and the taste of the cream overwhelms that of the cookies, due to its thickness you it can be presented to have a better visual appeal like adding different colours and patterns even adding other ingredients like fruits, cookies, chocolate chunks, cheese, candies, etc. Since these are thicker, dont expect the middle part to be as sweet as the original one otherwise this would not be palatable, filling on these fatcarons are less sweet but definitely tastier as the flavours is not just concentrated on sugar but with other ingredients as well.
It started to become popular around mid-year last year so I was late in the game as I tried this only early January this year, I am not sure when it did reached the NZ shores but since there are many Koreans here I suppose started to become popular at the same time. Anyways the one we tried was at this place called Daldang at Queen Street, it’s just a small stall beside Four Points by Sheraton. Comparing the prices with some macarons in Auckland, these things are double the price, but if I compare them to the prices of macarons we had in Europe then it is on par.
We grabbed the half dozen box (NZ$25.00) which saves you NZ$2.00 if you buy six individual ones (NZ$4.50). If you buy a dozen (NZ$45.00) you will save NZ$9.00. As for the flavours we grabbed the Salted Caramel, Choc Brownie, Cookies and Cream, Crispy Crunch, Cheesecake and Cheese Poteau. Everything was amazing, everything was delicious and pretty, I liked them all and actually they are all equal to me. They are unique on their individual ways so it’s hard to choose a favourite, they are not too sweet, creamy in the middle and the cookie is crunchy, it is perfect on every bite.
I guess you will have to try it out, so you know what I am talking about. Maybe for me, the next time I will get a dozen to taste them all.
Daldang
Address: 23/396 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Email: info@daldang.co.nz
Website: http://www.daldang.co.nz/
Interesting. I’m not familiar with the Factcaron…at least not until now. I do love a good macaron, though, and these look like a fun twist on the macaron. They offer such a fun way to decorate/garnish, too! I’m thinking any of the chocolate ones would disappear quickly around here. Now I just need to go down to NZ…
A Korean bakery opened in Tucson last year and they had fatcarons… I never tried one, but judging from your review, I need to go back and do just that.