The Macaroon

Posted by Gina
Sunday, January 18, 2009

I’ll never forget this image.  I was dreamily looking out on the Champs Elysees through the window of the tour bus.  There it was in its beautiful simplicity.  The color, the design … so French!  “ It”, however, was not the Arch de Triumph, but a sign for something called “Laduree”.  At the time, I had no idea what that was.  I just knew that whatever it was, it had to be good.


Later that evening, after an amazing dinner of a goat cheese salad and perfectly roasted chicken we decided to walk off some calories and the bottle of Bordeaux.  We stumbled upon Laduree.

Upon entering this beautiful tea salon, we noticed how packed it was.  The line in front of the counter was so long but we cued up nonetheless.  I didn’t even know what I was ordering.  As the line progressed I was able to finally see behind the glass.  There they were.  Rows and rows of the most beautiful little pastry sandwiches in amazing pastel colors and flavors.

This was my first experience with the French macaroon, not to be confused with a coconut macaroon.  These are small, round cakes that are crisp on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle.  They are made of almonds, eggs and sugar and then flavored with everything from chocolate to anise.

With my little bag of treats we scurried back to the George V.  I sat on the end of the bed and bit into a lovely lavender pastry.  Light, sweet, delicious.  Sadly, I don’t think Tom even had a one, as I believe I ate the entire bag.

When Jen and I began designing Cakewalk Style, the colors of the macaroons from Laduree became our inspiration for our color palette.

If you are ever in Paris, you must go there and have a macaroon and a glass of champagne for me.  There is nothing better.


Laduree Champs Elysees
75, avenue des Champs Elysees
75008 Paris




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