Ladurée memories

Ladurée. We really wanted to do this because we like the occasional fancy tea and small cakes and what better place to do that than in Paris.

We'd seen a glimpse of how they roll around Champs-Élysées and decided instead to go to the artsy, let's-write-some-poetry-and-philosophize-and-smoke-at-the-outdoor-cafe part of town. Do the whole South Bank thing. We took the train to Saint-Germain-des-Prés for the Ladurée Bonaparte location. Rive Gauche style.

I wasn't a huge macaron fan. I've tried repeatedly here in Los Angeles. They are good, but not my favorite. I enjoy the bright colors and trying different flavors. In the end, the texture left me wanting more and I'd wonder why the fuss, the expense. After Ladurée, arguably the worldwide authority on the cookie, I understand completely. I've since looked into what it takes to produce a homebaked version of the confection—yeah, it's challenging.

So, sandwiches, tea, macarons, chocolate. Here are photos dated Oct. 14, 2011...