Laduree And Its Macarons Have Become A World Famous Patisserie - Paris, France
What is it – France is known throughout the world for the excellent pastries and sweets served in its cafes, restaurants and patisseries. Culinary matters are serious business in France. Legally, only an establishment that employs a licensed master pastry chef or pâtissier can claim to be a patisserie. One of the most celebrated French patisseries is Laduree which opened in Paris in 1862 and became a popular establishment among the social elite of the city for its fine food and treats during the Gilded Age. One specialty then and now is a double deck macaron sandwich cookie made with meringue, almond flour and buttercream fillings of various flavors.
Today, Laduree has expanded to ten stores in central Paris and one hundred locations around the world. These include stores in New York, Beverly Hills, Washington, D.C., Miami, and five other U.S. locations. The company distributes approximately five million macarons per day both at these establishments or in gift boxes shipped from kitchens in Paris. Meanwhile, the Laduree macaron has remained a symbol of fine dining and is often featured as a special treat at celebrity weddings or important events.
So what is all the fuss about? Macarons are prepared in a wide variety of flavors and colors. Some of the popular choices include salted caramel, pistachio, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, cherry and hazelnut. Macarons are a light dessert with only 80 to 100 calories per cookie and they are enjoyed with many beverages from coffee and tea to champagne and wine or even hot chocolate. A food expert writing in the Washington Post described the composition of an ideal macaron as follows: “A good macaron should have a smooth shell with some shine. It should crack-but not totally disintegrate-when you bite it, revealing a pleasantly chewy interior that isn’t dense or riddled with air pockets. Properly baked macarons will also have the characteristic pied, or foot, around the edge. The filling shouldn’t ooze out or overwhelm the cookie.”
Laduree’s fashionable main location on the Champs-Elysees in Paris is worthwhile visiting as long as you keep in mind that it is a popular tourist destination and you may have to be patient about the service. There are often long lines of people waiting for a seat, purchasing items from the takeout counter while admiring the macarons, or taking photos. If you relax, however, you can enjoy a luxury breakfast or a fancy tea time in the classic interior of the restaurant. Breakfast offerings include different types of French toast, omelets or eggs benedict, quiches, and avocado toast. Meal offerings throughout the day include salads, croissants and club sandwiches. But most people give in and also order ice cream, a pastry, or of course, a selection of macarons.
Interesting Facts - Some sources claim that the sweets which evolved into macarons were first brought to France from Italy by the Queen Catherine de Medici in the 1500s. Others assert that two nuns from the city of Nancy in northeast France who became known as the Macaron sisters baked and sold the pastry during the French Revolution. In any event, the sweet made its way to Paris by the mid-1800s where Louis Laduree and other confectioners popularized it.
When to Go -The flagship cafe is open seven days a week throughout the year from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. If you are in a part of Paris with a satellite store such as the ones near Rue Cler and the Louvre, the menu may be more limited but the macarons will still be delicious.
Cost - The cost for a macaron averages about $3.00 in Paris and at most U.S. locations. A gift box of a dozen delivered to your door costs approximately $45.00. Meal items for breakfast or lunch range from $12 to $23 and most side items are under $10.