Laduree macaroons—what flavors do you like?
 

I had no idea that macaroons come in different flavors. I'm determined to get to Laduree this time (as well as Angelique's), but decisions are not my forte! Do you all have any favorite flavors?

decisions aren't my thing either, so i ended up buying an assorted box to take home with me! i did however, love the lemon ones.

Chocolate & Hazelnut Praline.
But as quimbymoy says, why make a decision, get a box of everything :)

Hi LV,

The macarons at Laduree, Pierre Herme', etc are not the macaroOns we have in the US.

Go to www.google.com, enter "macaron" and click "images". You will see the difference.

>Laduree macaroons—what flavors do you like?<

What's not to like?

((I))

Yes, they're all good.

However, I have a few favorites :-)

Griotte-amaretto (cherry amaretto), cassis-violette, framboise (raspberry), citron (lemon), caramel au beurre salé (salted butter caramel.

Ladurée is always one of our first and last stops in Paris (and a few in between!)

It's also a lovely place to have lunch.

I'm so glad I posted this question! Imagine my perplexity had I gone looking for macaroons! (Those treacherous "faux amis"!) I would never have recognized them. Thanks for the tip, Ira.

So these are cookies with a filling?

Pitashio! But, I do get an assortment. They don't have a filling. But I have seen them (not sure where) where two are made into a "sandwich" with a frosting-type spread in the middle.

Pistache!

LVSue, when do you leave for Paris?

I was in paris last week. Walking south out of the Place Madeline, we passed a Laduree shop and a bell went off in my head. I knew I had read about it here, but couldn't remember why.
We went inside and I saw the macarons. They have both large and small sizes. The large ones were almost 3 euro each (I think), but you could get 6 little ones for 6 euro.
We got the assortment and the chocolate and caramel ones were my favorites.

Hi LV,

>So these are cookies with a filling?<

Is champagne white wine and seltzer?

Until you have had one, and I suggest either Laduree or Pierre Herme so that you will know what they should taste like, you will not understand how good macarons are.

((I))

((I))

We once bought a bag--not from Laduree, but at a stall at the Carpentras market--that was a mixture of my favorites (caramel, coffee, chocolate). Oh la la.

I'll strongly third the suggestion to get a boxed assortment - one of each. You'll be glad you did. Laduree's are indeed heavenly, but Pierre Herme's are even better. We decided a side by side taste test was in order so purchased a boxed assortment from both places. Mmmmm. You can also order them online if you want to do a little advanced research without the pressure.

Does anyone know if (and where) Laduree or Pierre Hermes macarons can be found in the Nice/Grasse/Cannes area?

Of course, Ira, I posted that just to see if I could get a rise out of someone (though I'm still not sure exactly what they are). The flavors are so tantalizing: cherry-amaretto, chocolate, caramel. I think I will get an assortment early in my stay so I can stock up on my favorite(s) before leaving. (But if I get an assortment, how will I know which flavor is which?)

This has turned into such a great day-chore for me--I can't wait! So is there a Pierre Herme in the 6th?

Grandmere, I leave the 30th of April, return the 9th of May. Will you be there?

Pierre Hermé is at 72 rue Bonaparte in the 6th - just off Place St. Sulpice. You can identify them by looking at the brochure that comes with the box.

and Laduree is just up the street at 21 rue Bonaparte.

>..if I get an assortment, how will I know which flavor is which?<

The colors of the filling and of the pastry are different.

An interesting link to macarons is at
http://www.histoire-de-macaron.com/

((I))

"The colors of the filling and of the pastry are different."

Yes, but it can still be quite a guessing game if you're not familiar with all the flavors.

I like the chocolate.

Before I went to Laduree, I got a heavenly macaroon at a little tea shop somewhere in the Marais. I ended up liking it better than Laduree's, but of course I didn't note the store name or location. :(

We are visiting Paris in two weeks and will have to make a stop at Lauduree. We are staying in the 6th at the Hotel Delavigne - are there any locations close by?

Gérard Mulot, fantastic:

http://www.gerard-mulot.com/

Tyr23,
21 rue Bonaparte 75006 Paris.
You need to do some research fella.
All it takes is Googling "Laduree".
That's it.

http://www.laduree.fr/macaron_histoire_va.htm

Heh, I'm not a fella, but thanks for the information. I did look at that website, but I didn't notice the location.

Tyr23,
Sorry for the miscue ma'am.
As far as the site for Laduree, look to the right and click on "Laduree Universe"

Tyr23,
I mean left.

Cute story about the American students, Ira.

Tyr23, Pierre Hermé is about the same distance from your hotel (actually closer if you walk back streets), so you can experience both.

Now, how about the best chocolate place? (I know, do a search...) Any quick advice/addresses, still hoping for the 6th or 7th.

LVSue, I arrive on the 9th, but go straight to Normandy, returning to Paris on the 14th for 4 days. Bad timing!

There was an article a few months ago in NYT Travel section about best chocolates in Paris. I wish I had kept it. You could find it in their archives but probably have to pay for a copy when it's that far back.

Just rereading your original post; did you mean Angelina? Not trying to nit pick, just wondered, b/c if you've never been to Angelina, I think you'd find it a treat. Despite some of the negatives about its decor, she still is a grande dame, if a bit faded! Try the Mont Blanc, if you like chestnut puree.

Yes, grandmere, I meant Angelina's. Have no idea if I like chestnut puree or not! It isn't too sickly sweet, is it?

Too bad we are passing like ships in the night, but have a great time in Normandy!

Hermés started out working at Ladurée and gave them their unique flavors but, you must know we all have different taste buds that might not agree with yours. So start by tasting the familiar ones, before you invest with the exotic.

I absolutely love the hazlenut and PRALINE flavoured too. Scrumptious!

a message for LVSue, the macarons are not what we see here. look more like our old indian pies, if you are old enogh to remember, but not that big

Here are my (handwritten) notes from the 12/12/04 NYT article on chocolate:

Angelina's, 226 rue de Rivoli, hot chocolate

La Charlotte de l'ile, 24 rue St. Louis en l'ile, best hot chocolate

Michel Chaudon, 149 rue de l'universite, cast chocolates, good ginger ganache, bonbons, paves

Christian Constant, 37 rue d'Assas, hot chocolate, malabar cardomon

Jean-Paul Hevin, 231 rue St.-Honore, chocolate, praline, hazelnut, longchamp pastry (5 bar rating)

Pierre Herme, 72 rue Bonaparte, pH3-white chocolate balls filled with increasingly acidic ingredients(4 bars)

La Maison du Chocolate, 8 Blvd. de la Madeleine, red wine chocolate, mint bonbons (5 bars)

Octave, 138 rue Moffetard, great ice cream

LVSue-

I bought Laduree's maracons on my last trip, but gave them as a gift to my friend. When I was buying them, the store assistant told me that the "caramel" flavor is *the best*.

I also went to Pierre Herme on rue Bonaparte but bought pastries there instead. (I wrote about it on my trip report.) You should try the pH3 pastry there (mentioned in the NYT article).

The NYT article:
http://travel2.nytimes.com/mem/trave...France%2fParis

In terms of chocolate stores in 6th - there is:
Pierre Marcolini (111op's favorite) 89 Rue de Seine
La Maison du Chocolat - 19 rue de Sevres (near Le Bon Marche)
Debauve & Gallais - 30 rue des Saints-Pères
Christian Constant
Michel Chaudun
(The last several ones also mentioned in the NYT article)

Yum! I am definitely going to check these out. The cherry-amaretto, casis-violette, and the framboise sound so good to me.

YK, thanks for the link. Now I am truly set. I'm not sure about the pH3 because of the white chocolate, but they do sound intriguing. Pierre Marcolini will be the "closest to home," I think.

Pierre Herme' makes a Rose flavored macaron that is amazing.

Framboise! But I also had some at a place called Cocao and Chocolate (I'm sure I have that name wrong) and liked those better. But I would never turn my nose up at any offered.