Exciting News! Ladurée to open Manhattan Salon de Thé

To those of you who are not aware of what Ladurée is, let me explain. While shopping in Paris last June, I was overcome with fatigue (yes... shopping on the Champs Élysée is exhausting n'est ce pas?) and needed a cup of tea and a little something sweet. I came across a place called Ladurée on the Rue Royale near the Place de la Concorde. The window was intriguing so I went inside and was whisked back in time to the 1860's. The room was beautiful with wood boiserie paneling, French Empire-style fixtures, chandeliers and furniture. The tea and treats were served in sterling pots and china cups and the pastries... ah, the pastries! Ladurée is apparently famous for some lovely little cookies they call macaroons, not at all similar to the coconut and egg white cookies we are familiar with. I absolutely loved that place and went back again for luncheon as they also served luncheon (sandwiches, pâtés, etc.). (The Menu is here) A little note of interest... Ladurée also prepared the pastries for Sophia Coppolla's film "Marie Antoinette". If you saw that film you would remember the sumptuous pastries in that film.

Now comes news (albeit sketchy) that Ladurée will open a "salon de thé" in New York. They were originally due to open a salon in The Plaza, but the owners of The Plaza screwed that up so they are looking into another NYC locale. Let's hope that they can find a spot and open soon. In the meantime, here are a couple of photos of Ladurée in Paris. Bon appetite!