On my first visit to Paris in 2009, I was eager to see which I would prefer between the macaron heavy weights of Laduree and Pierre Herme. So B and I settled it once and for all with a blind taste test.
The winner: Pierre Herme.
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| Small bites of heaven |
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| Ispahan macaron with raspberries and lychee filling |
While the macarons at Laduree were amazing in their own right, Pierre Herme won fair and square. We bought four macarons with the same flavors (rose, vanilla, chocolate, etc) and an ispahan macaron from both places. When we did the blind taste test, we both chose the macaron from Pierre Herme over Laduree, three out of four times. It's been so long that I can't recall the precise reason why (was it the macaron shell? the filling?), but what I do remember is that the macarons at Pierre Herme just tasted better overall. The ispahan macaron was leaps and bounds better at Pierre Herme as well (the famous macaron Pierre Herme created while he worked at Laduree...and took with him when he opened his own business).
As far as packaging goes though, Laduree is the clear winner.
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| Laduree kiosk at Orly airport. There is also a Laduree Cafe if you have time to relax for a cup of tea. |
