FOOD, France, Uncategorized EUROTRIP: THE FAMOUS LADUREE 23 August 2010

So I mentioned a few posts back when we had those Pierre Herme macarons that I would make a post “soon” about Laduree to compare. I think everyone missed that, because a ton of people commented and emailed me asking/recommending I go to Laduree, lol! I swear I did!! It was 1st on our list when we first planned the trip ages back. So I will say it again – I DID GO TO LADUREE!!!!. And, finally, here is the post πŸ˜›

For those that can’t be bothered to read any further…. The Verdict: Laduree did not live up to our expectations.

The mention of Laduree seems to make Asians go into a frenzy. I realised whey when we went to the Laduree in Japan – it was super luxe, delicately furnitured, and visually stunning. Pretty pastels everywhere, all girly and adorable. An Asian girl’s dream πŸ˜‰

When we stepped into the Paris one, I was surprised that it looked a little threadbare/old/run down. The staff were relatively polite, but appeared understaffed. That, or our waiter wasn’t cut out to be a waiter. He was UNBELIEVABLY clumsy!!!! He actually dropped food bringing it to tables, banged his tray all over the place, crashed silverware on dinings, etc etc etc. It was actually kinda comical, during the times were weren’t scared he’d drop our food on us πŸ˜‰

Strange/comical service aside, the food was just average. The only stand out item was the French Toast which was completely sublime! Soft and fluffy yet just dense enough, with a lovely creamy moist texture. Loved how they also gave 100% pure maple syrup (instead of the fake flavoured stuff I expect most restaurants to give), it was a nice touch πŸ™‚

Overall, I reckon Laduree in Paris is more hype than quality (or service). There are many other quality boutique cafes around that I preferred.


The famous Laduree on Champs ElysΓ©es

The menu

Assorted patisseries inside. I was told “no photos!” after I took this pic,
the ONLY place in France that told me that *thumbs down*

Our bread rolls were complimentary which were nice, but one of them was ripped in half.. looking like someone ate half of it?! They looked dry and unexciting, so we didn’t try any. The coffee was average but nothing spectacular.

(not very fresh) bread rolls with Laduree-wrapped butter. That roll on the left?
It came to us half-torn like this…… ewwwww!!!

Coffee

Chris’ Scrambled eggs and bacon was OK, but easily cooked at home and certainly not worth the price. There was nothing special about it. The eggs were really creamy which was nice, but didn’t have a rich flavour and was actually rather bland.


Scrambled eggs and bacon. Not bad.

I thought France would be stunning with pastries (and they are), but the Laduree pastries were just sub-par. The same quality you would get in the unbranded section of a grocery store, pre-made days before. The croissant wasn’t buttery at all and the chocolate croissant had so little chocolate I didn’t taste any.


Pastries. Unexciting and didn’t taste very good..

They looked nice on the inside, though!

Fortunately, the French toast was flat out STUNNING. Possibly the best french toast I’ve had in a restaurant. It was very very different to other versions of french toast.. it was round, and incredibly spongey and soft and moist. Almost like a…. crumpet? And it had the perfect amount of egg in it and cooked to perfection. I adored it. Chris, who does NOT like french toast, really liked it too… so we were glad at least 1 of the dishes were excellent.


The french toast, looking and tasting like no french toast I’ve ever had. I LOVED it.

Incredibly fluffy, moist and gooey. Ohhhhh it was sooo yummy :)~

Chocolate macaron. Compared to the Pierre Herme macarons?
Basically about the same πŸ˜›

A pic of me being strange and clutching my pastries, heh


Let’s Chat!




Let's Chat!

We went to to the branch at rue st honore and they were quite polite both times we were there. And they didn’t stop us from taking pics too!

But those bread rolls are grrrooosss!! Did u guys send it back?

Perhaps their main one on Champs is too popular so they go lax on the service/food.. sooooo sad

We didn’t send the rolls back (the waiter was so clumsy and didnt want to do ANY extra work, so he wouldn’t have done it anyway!) but we didn’t touch them either..

I had a similar experience in Laduree. The staff were exceptionally rude, clumsy (spilled a can of coke on another diner and didn’t clean it up) and the food sub-par. They also wouldn’t let me take photos and yelled at me for doing so. I would NEVER ever go back.

Was it the same branch? i just wasn’t impressed, esp when there are so many other cuter cafes with better staff and way more excellent food! I wouldn’t even bother going back for their pastries/sweets…

That half-torn bread roll looks gross. :p I wouldn’t touch it too!

Beverly, you look fantastic! And I wonder how many outfits you packed for your trip. Most travellers (me included!) don’t look as fab as you. πŸ™‚

Aww thanks Serene, that’s nice of you!
I actually only packed around 3 dresses, and 4 tops (with 2 skirts to wear with). But I mix and match ’em around.. and we also had to wash out clothes cos we ran out hahahah

(not very fresh) bread rolls with Laduree-wrapped butter. That roll on the left?
It came to us half-torn like this…… ewwwww!!!

Hmm, I think I read in Kitchen Confidential that the restaurants “reuse” bread that is not eaten, and that if you think otherwise you are sadly mistaken.

I woudln’t be surprised, I guess they see it as a waste of bread! I don’t mind if it’s not touched, but a half-used roll is WEIRD….

We went to to the branch at rue st honore and they were quite polite both times we were there. And they didn’t stop us from taking pics too!

But those bread rolls are grrrooosss!! Did u guys send it back?

Perhaps their main one on Champs is too popular so they go lax on the service/food.. sooooo sad

We didn’t send the rolls back (the waiter was so clumsy and didnt want to do ANY extra work, so he wouldn’t have done it anyway!) but we didn’t touch them either..

I had a similar experience in Laduree. The staff were exceptionally rude, clumsy (spilled a can of coke on another diner and didn’t clean it up) and the food sub-par. They also wouldn’t let me take photos and yelled at me for doing so. I would NEVER ever go back.

Was it the same branch? i just wasn’t impressed, esp when there are so many other cuter cafes with better staff and way more excellent food! I wouldn’t even bother going back for their pastries/sweets…

That half-torn bread roll looks gross. :p I wouldn’t touch it too!

Beverly, you look fantastic! And I wonder how many outfits you packed for your trip. Most travellers (me included!) don’t look as fab as you. πŸ™‚

Aww thanks Serene, that’s nice of you!
I actually only packed around 3 dresses, and 4 tops (with 2 skirts to wear with). But I mix and match ’em around.. and we also had to wash out clothes cos we ran out hahahah

(not very fresh) bread rolls with Laduree-wrapped butter. That roll on the left?
It came to us half-torn like this…… ewwwww!!!

Hmm, I think I read in Kitchen Confidential that the restaurants “reuse” bread that is not eaten, and that if you think otherwise you are sadly mistaken.

I woudln’t be surprised, I guess they see it as a waste of bread! I don’t mind if it’s not touched, but a half-used roll is WEIRD….