Hi all,

Just back from Paris. I shall post a trip report soon, but for now I have a most important question:

Is Laduree's violet macaron better than Pierre Herme's rose macaron?

I can't decide, and I can't afford to keep tasting them.

All help appreciated.

Ira-

Fortunately, the only way to be sure is to keep tasting! Eagerly awaiting your trip report.

MaryAnn

Welcome back, ira!

Personally, I'll take a chocolate macaroon over those flower flavors any day. But that's just me and it leaves more for you.

What are your favorite places for chocolate macaroons in Paris?

Any places to find them in the U.S.?

Here is our daughter's take on Laduree's rose macaron: yuck!

She picked it because it was so pink and pretty and without realizing it was rose (I don't think she had rose anything before). You should have seen the expression on her face >

Yes, Ira, I'll be particularly interested in your report from France and those French folks whom you wondered if they would "rename American cheese" I trust you weren't attacked by anyone while there.

Hotel Haus Lipmann in Beilstein on the Mosel had wonderful macaroons.

Welcome home, Ira. Did you meet Bonaparte, the cat?

My vote is for Pierre Herme's coffee macaroons. And, under the heading of useless information, aren't their paper shopping bags the most beautiful you've ever seen? I brought one home as a souvenir!

http://www.lamaisonduchocolat.com/index.php

After seeing the Byzantine show at the Metropolitan Museum (which is fantastic) - friends and i stopped into Maison du Chocolat. My friend had a chocolate macaron that was very good - I'm more familiar with there dark chocolates (yumm) - not sure if they can ship macarons...

I've had one of Maison's macarons in Paris and it was good, if a bit sweet. The chocolates are truly excellent though. Don't know the Laudree or Pierre Herme macarons, but I've been wanting to try them for a while.

I've not yet had Fauchon's macarons either. In the US I bet Maison and Fauchon would be your best bets. But I think that macarons would be considered somewhat perishable. Fauchon even refused to ship chocolates for me. In NYC Payard probably also makes them, I'd think. But I find Ceci-Cela on Spring Street cheaper and superior to Payard (not sure if they do macarons either).

111op -
Have you tried Fauchon's gelatos/sorbets/ice creams (?) - mango giner, pear rosemary, white chocolate with carmalized bananas, etc - 3 scoops for $4.75.

I have, mark. Just once though. Last year I read about some special flavors that came out, so I went to sit in their tea room in the store on Park Avenue. They were very interesting.

But right now my favorite ice-cream place in NYC is "Cones" on Bleeker Street.

the 'grapefruit' at Cones is perfect for the summer.

though right now I'm kinda partial to Ronnybrooks coconut and cardamon flavors

I love Fauchon's macacroons. I try to get my fill whenever I'm in Paris or NYC!

Hi mark, where're these flavors?

I tend to stick with chocolate (well dark chocolate at "Cones&quot -- works for me every time.

Well stormy, I'll have to try the Fauchon macarons then. It's sort of odd that I haven't.

Wow,

Talk about hijacking a thread.

Iza,

I bought an assortment (21 petite macarons for 28E) yesterday and picked out a nice pink one this morning, thinking it was strawberry. Quite a shock.

However, I was transported to a perfumed garden.

Singletail,

Not only was I not attacked, I wasn't accosted by beggars, sneered at or treated rudely. I didn't see any American Cheese, though.

Hi Iregeo

Yes, I met Napoleon. He is a lovely little thing. I have some pix of him, which I will try to post.

>...aren't [Pierre Hermes's] paper shopping bags the most beautiful you've ever seen? <

I must say that they are unique and do make excellent souvenirs.

Hi ira!
Happy to have you back from Paris!
I think to better answer this question, I must go back to Paris and taste all the macaroons all over the city.
Right now, I would be leaning toward the chocolate though.

111op -
Ronnybrook has a store at the Chelsea Market

http://www.ronnybrook.com/

I only go to Cones in the summer - so maybe they haven't started their summer flavors?

hey everyone! I went to Paris Christmas 2002. I'm 17 and I went with a friend from Germany and we happened to stumble upon this place (Laduree) and it was superb! It's funny that the rose one was one of my favorites! I ended up buying 72 euros worth of macarons! i've never been to Pierre Herme's but I plan to go there this summer when I go back to Laduree with my friend! Man I miss those things! Now, I am in search of the BEST macarons. I love culture and I love Belgium (where I'm born) so I'm glad I found this place where I can talk about travel and food!

Will be in Paris soon and now have a couple of desserts I can look forward to trying out.

Ice cream parfaits... check
Macarons... check

This is great... =)