Cronut so 2013, eclairs treat du jour
The reign of the cupcake, the macaroon and the cronut is over. The classic eclair has taken the sweet treat throne.
Martha’s Pantry owner and high tea expert Mary McLeod serves at least 100 high teas a week and has seen the coming and going of many trends in the baking world.
‘‘It’s a 21st Century thing that we like change,’’ she said.
‘‘ In the past it was very much traditional things, [but] social media makes for rapid trend changes.’’
McLeod, who opened Martha’s Pantry seven years ago, said both macaroons and cupcakes were regular features of their popular high tea.
She said they experimented last year with the now popular eclairs, but the cream filled delicacy did not take then.
Despite the trends, McLeod and her team focused on the New Zealand classics, because they were childhood favourites. ‘‘That’s what people love.’’ She said scones were always popular and children could never go past an iced treat.
High teas have become a trendy thing to do on a special occasion or just as an excuse to hang out with the girlfriends.
‘‘They treat it as a special occasion – they wear their best clothes and their pearls, which we love,’’ McLeod said.
The eclair is enjoying its moment on the top tier, but what will be the next baked good to rise to sweet treat fame? Rumour on the street is the biskie, a combination of the best bits of a cookie, cake and a biscuit.