Laduree: The Royals of the Macaroon Fairyland

It’s me, Eloise.

Je suis in London. Nanny and me, we went for tea.

It was too, too délicieux for words.

We went to Ladurée at Harrods. It’s new and it’s très Parisienne. It had pretty paintings on the walls and lots of people inside and we sat there for hours. Nanny had tea in a dainty cup; I had un chocolat chaud. That’s French for hot chocolate.

Nanny ordered une brioche, s’il vous plait, followed by tarte passion framboise. She said it’s the only passion she’ll be having for a while, so she ate it very quickly. Weenie had a croissant avec jam; he doesn’t like to be left out.

I had a plate of macarons Ladurée. They come in all kinds of flavours with cream inside and, boy, are they good, good, good. I never saw them at the Plaza (Lord rest its soul — that’s what Nanny always says) but they make très good earrings.

We bought some eclairs in a little box for Skipperdee. He stayed in my room because he doesn’t like the crowds in Harrods. Unlike moi.

Then we said au revoir to the waiter and went home for a bath.

And Nanny ate all the eclairs. hihi

cute story!!

These small, round cakes, crisp on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle, are the most famous creation of Ladurée.

The story of the Ladurée macaroon starts with Pierre Desfontaines, distant cousin of Louis Ernest Ladurée, who at the beginning of the 20th century first thought of taking two macaroon shells and joining them with a delicious ganache filling. The way of making them has never changed since that time.

They are made every morning in Ladurée’s "laboratory". The pastry chefs measure out very precisely the required amounts of almonds, eggs and sugar, before adding one final ingredient, a pinch of unique "know-how", essential to the making of such a delicacy.

Once cooked and filled, the macaroons are put to one side for 2 days before going on sale, the time it takes to achieve a perfect balance between texture and flavour.

Macaroons come in two sizes: the mini-macaroon or "gerbet" and full-size macaroons.

With each new season, Ladurée pays tribute to this its most famous creation by creating a new flavour.
The existing range of macaroons is always the starting point when a new one is created, as the variety of colours is as important as the range of flavours and a vital part of their appeal.


Ladurée at Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1 (020 3155 0111 or laduree.com). Open Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m.

Looooooove!!!