(between 72nd St & 71st St)
New York, NY 10021
First off let me say, I do know a thing or two about macaroons, and Laduree is supposed to be the spot... This will be my first try, I'm very excited.
The journey (for giggles)... imagine close to 100 degree heat and very muggy... Lexington and 3rd walking to Madison and 71st, that's a hike! I'm dying, trying to keep up with the wife... I'm complaining then from the corner of my eye I see a little shimmer of hope, wait it's not hope! It's the sun reflecting from Laduree sign across the street! "Babe, we have to stop, I need to try Laduree!"
In case you didn't know, The story of the Ladurée macaron starts with Pierre Desfontaines, second cousin of Louis Ernest Ladurée, who at the beginning of the 20th century first thought of taking two macaron shells and joining them with a delicious ganache filling and voila! The French macaroon!
So here we are, at the all famous Laduree... A beautiful boutique on Madison full of just macaroons and a few small novelties, but it's all macaroon business here. As we walk up to the shop it looks all quiet on the western front, but as we get closer, I notice a couple trying to beat us to the door, really? Ah forget it, let 'em have it, but as we walk in there's a line of people waiting for these scrumptious little treats. So we wait patiently for about 10-15 minutes, seriously, that's a long wait, I'm not waiting for a ride at Disneyland right? So we're up! what to choose, rose petal, raspberry, salted caramel, pistachio, lemon, and lime and mint… half a dozen ($18).
So I start right in once we walk out the door… I’m like, can’t wait, I can just take a few nibbles while were walking. I look over at the wife, would you like to try one? I’m thinking twice! I know! But I’ve never tried Laduree! But nonetheless, she’s I think got the lemon (of course I’m gonna share)… OK, now I’ve got the rose, I look at the wife with a smile and a wink then I sink my teeth into the macaroon, first, it’s moist, just a bit on the soft cookie side (just the tiniest bit, not like a cookie, but I cannot describe it any other way), it’s not as light as I’ve had in the past, but it’s ALL GOODNESS. The ganache is perfect, the flavor, light, not too sweet… One more, just for kicks! Salted caramel… I look at the macaroon, I notice it’s feet (the rough part of the macaroon shell just below the part that’s smooth) these puppies have legs… I hear it’s the rising of the macaroon shell and attaining the “foot” of the shell that makes macaroons so challenging to make. But I’m not baking, I’m eating! I take another bite, again, denser than I’ve had in the past on some, moist, tiny bit flakey, delicate, and once again a perfect ganache…
OK, Laduree… I see why walking down the street everyone envy’s the purple bag full of delight!
FINAL THOUGHTS: GO! Try them all!
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