Thanks to Elsy Butler, residents of southwestern Wisconsin are enjoying a taste of France.
Elsy is the culinary talent behind Fleur de Lis Macarons, which specializes in made-to-order macarons that she delivers to customers each Friday.
It’s been a treat for Elsy to open this business in Sauk Prairie, the town where she grew up and returned to — after living in Alabama’s Gulf Coast and Nashville — with her husband Christopher. Their four children, Joseph, Evalynn, Harlen and Emilia, range in age from ten to three.
Elsy shares more!
What drew you to macarons? What is it about them that you love?
I learned how to make macarons in 2013, while on maternity leave with my second child. I just loved everything about them. They were bite-sized, flavorful and not your normal “cookie.” I focused on macarons after I had family encourage me to make them for their parties and open a social media page.
Macarons are a naturally gluten-free dessert, as they are made from ground almond flour, not regular flour. They are a great option for those with celiac disease.
What inspired you to start Fleur de Lis Macarons?
I opened September 2020. I had just moved back from Nashville and was feeling a little stressed with not being able to work, due to my children having virtual school. I always need to be doing something.
You have so many amazing flavors — fifty listed on your website right now! How do you come up with them all?
I’m a foodie — I love trying all the varieties of different foods from different countries and cultures. I am inspired by the flavors I try at ice cream shops, restaurants, boba shops, etc. It’s always a fun challenge trying to come up with my own version of said flavor, in a macaron.
What’s your favorite flavor personally? How about your family? And is there a customer favorite?
My personal favorite is the mangonada. It’s a flavor from my Hispanic culture. Imagine those mango slice fruit cups you buy from street vendors over the summer, with a tajin chile red sauce drizzled on. I recreated that in a macaron, and people love it! My family’s favorite is cookie dough, and the customer favorite is salted caramel.
What’s a typical day or week like for you as a baker and business owner?
A typical week usually starts on Sundays for me. Although I am off and not baking that day, I do post the new week’s flavors and start responding to order emails. I will bake the next few days and close orders by Wednesday evening. Macarons are then delivered Friday. It can be tough trying to navigate being a business owner as well as a mom. I’m still finding my balance with separating both.
What is your delivery area for your macarons?
My delivery area ranges within thirty miles of the Sauk Prairie area. I don’t offer shipping at this moment due to macarons’ delicate nature, but I do have customers who decide to ship them out themselves.
What are the best parts of running your business? How about the biggest challenges?
The best part is being able to create unique and special orders for customers’ special events — birthdays, weddings, baby showers. The biggest challenge has been the growth over the last year. Some months I can’t even process the amount of orders I have. I have a hard time saying no, and sometimes that makes for days where I work later than normal.
What do people tend to misunderstand about your line of work?
I think people tend to not understand that French macarons are literally not your typical cookie. There is such an extensive process to them, and getting them just right that takes time to learn. People don’t understand the price for a small bite.
What keeps you inspired?
The feedback! I love hearing from people that they loved their macarons, or when they send me elaborate set-ups for their parties and events. Some people will really challenge me with out-there flavor combos or designs.
What do you hope your kids get from seeing you do this work?
My hope is that my kids know you can switch careers at any time. I used to be a construction administrator, splitting time between the office and job sites. Some days I really miss having a set schedule, then coming home and not worrying. Other days, I’m just so thankful for the extra time I’m able to spend with them.
Outside of work, what are your favorite things to do as a family?
As a family we love being out and about. We enjoy hikes, swimming, traveling. My husband is from the Gulf Coast in Alabama, and we try to visit a couple times a year for the beach.
The Sauk Prairie area is so beautiful! What are some of the best parts about living there?
I love the small-town charm. It’s expanded a lot over the last several years. In the summer you see people out running and walking their dogs, and kids for the most part can comfortably roam around the neighborhoods with their friends. There’s a sense of security about Sauk Prairie that I think a lot of people feel. Nothing “bad” ever really happens. I think that’s why the couple times that I moved out of state, I ended up coming back.
What are you most looking forward to in this year ahead?
I’m looking forward to the continued growth and making more connections. This year has already been off to a great start.
The big question I’ve been getting asked more and more lately is whether I’ll be considering a storefront. I honestly don’t know. It’s a huge step that I feel like I can’t make at this particular moment with the pandemic. If this pandemic taught us anything, it’s that people really enjoy having delivery to their home, with the click of a button. I would say that’s what really brought customers in for me.
– Katie Vaughn
Photos courtesy of Elsy Butler.
Katie Vaughn is the editor and co-founder of Northerly. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University-trained journalist with experience as a writer, reporter, editor, blogger and author. She lives in Madison with her husband, daughter and son, and is always up for an adventure.