On my first trip to Paris, I was in search of the oldest chocolatier shop in all of Paris and I found the most unique shop on the Champs-Élysées - Ladurée. Ladurée has been in business since 1862.
Ladurée makes luxury cakes and pastries and is known as the inventor of the double-decker macaron. Often duplicated in other pastry shops both here and in France, but none comes to the the original of Ladurée. Over 15,000 of these are sold each day. They are too die for, and ooh so good. When I go there, I usually purchase 2 boxes, one to eat while there and one to bring home. However, it is so hard to bring home the second box normally they are both eaten before I leave my beloved Paris. Pierre Herme also makes a macaron, but I guess I am macaron snub. I like them both but my heart belongs to Ladurée! LOL
What I like about Ladurée, not only can you buy your macarons, they have a beautiful resaturant that transforms you back to an different era and time, the food is fantastic, maybe a little pricey but worth every minute of it. Especially when in the spring and summer sitting outdoors and people watching. The interior and exterior facade is painted in celadon green. On the inside the ceilings are painted with chubby cherubs dressed as pastry cooks which is the company's emblem. Their shopping bags and boxes are so esquite, I still have my first shopping bag and box. I kept them both as a keepsake of the good times I had in Paris on my chocolate adventure. On each trip, I look forward to returning and trying to new macaraon flavors.
So I guess you are wondering what is a macaraon? A macaraon is two bisucuit like almond cookies with chocolate ganache or fruit fillings in the center, sort of like the American institution the Oreo Cookie but 1000 times better LOL. Queen Catherine de'Medici first brought the macaron to France from Italy in the 16th century and it has been a stable pastry since then. Ladurée has become so popular and famous that they have opened up other stores around the world. Their cookies are so decadent that they were featured in the
Sofia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette in the scene between Marie-Antoinette and Ambassador Mercy.
However, in recent months McDonald's has started selling the French macaron. I have not tried one as of yet, but I will try one on my next visit after I stop by Ladurée to purchase my 2 dozen; but I guess I am a macaron snub, how you have such a delicate pastry next to Le Big Mac and les pommes de frites - I just shutter thinking about it. A blogger friend called a chocolate purist and s snob for preferring Ladurée over any other macraon in all of France. If anyone has traveled to Paris recently let me know if yo have tried the new McDonald sensation and give me your comments.
But I guess like anything else, someone would eventually make a more inexpensive macaraon than Ladurée and Pierre Herme. I just hope if this new pastry comes to the McDonald's in the US they do not bastardize it and have it displayed on the counter tops.
In my opinion the macaraon is sacred territory and does not belong next to meat and potatoes - LOL. So call me a purist and a snub but it whens to the original and best French macaraon - Ladurée is hands down the best there is!
