Dreaming of Laduree

If you want to taste the most delectable French macaroons, tarte tatin or one of my favourites the "millefeuille framboise" which is composed of delicate layers of caramelized puff pastry, chantilly cream and fresh raspberries, you may think that you must hop on a plane and travel all the way to Paris and drop into the always chic & always divine Laduree...but it seems that several New York establishments are now playing catch up in the fine French pâtisserie sector and thank God for us pastry loving New Yorkers!

I've tried many French pâtisseries when I lived there while studying at Parson's School of Design in Paris, and let me tell you that the following pâtisserie's in Manhattan run a close second to the ones I loved in Paris!

Lady M

41 E 78th @ Madison

My favourites are the Lady M Mille Crepe & the Tarte aux Fruits...amazing!

Macaron Cafe

161 W 36th @ 7th Ave

Try the Rose or the Dark Chocolate Macaroon...almost as good as Laduree

Payards

1032 Lexington @ 73rd

Try the caramel St. Honore or the raspberry Beaux-Arts

Nello

696 Madison @ 62nd

Try the Napoleon, so light and airy

Balthazar Bakery

80 Spring @ Crosby

They used to have the most divine raspberry napoleon which they stopped making, but they also have the most scrumptious petit fours!

Enjoy my fellow Francophiles and bon appetite!