One of my favorite places to visit in Paris is Ladurée on rue Royal. Their macarons are known to be amongst the best in Paris and after having eaten here twice during my visit, I can confirm that they are indeed worth a special trip.
The shop's fabled displays of pastel pastries are visually inspiring and the flavors on offer are enchanting: cassis-violette, praliné, framboise, pistache, pétales de rose, caramel à la fleur de sel, fleur d’oranger, citron, pain d’épice...
As a paper person, I especially appreciate Ladurée's flair for packaging and printed details. Wouldn't the initialed tea handle cover above (which is made of a very soft paper, by the way) make a fantastic addition to service at a bridal tea or during dessert at a wedding reception?
And speaking of wedding receptions, if you are having a French-themed celebration, macarons or chocolates from Ladurée would be a wonderfully extravagant wedding favor, especially since Ladurée's sweets are not available yet in the United States and must be ordered directly through the shops in Europe.
Ladurée Royale
16, rue Royale - 75008 Paris
Tel : 01 42 60 21 79 - Fax : 01 49 27 01 95
www.laduree.com
