Pierre Hermé
72, Rue Bonaparte
Paris
Date of Last Visit: Friday, April 10th, 2009
The Victim: Dad
The Damage: About 9 euros
The Background: I’m taking dad to Paris and Champagne for Easter. I’ve told him we can do anything he wants. I only have three things I want to do. Pierre Hermé is one of them.
I forget how many stairs there are in Paris. My 68 year old dad is a trooper. We are on and off metros and up and down stairs and then there we are, at Pierre Hermé. I explain to my father that it’s the place with the long line outside.
Everyone in the line is either American or Japanese. It’s funny. A little.
The Entrance: The line moves rather quickly and I explain to my dad that we’re not here for the pastries. We’re here for the macarons. He says he’s had macarons before, but I know he hasn’t. He’s thinking the coconut and chocolate ones that we’d get a lot back on the Island. (The Long one.)
The Service: Sweet. Attentive. I tell the man it’s his choice and I want just six. He loads me up. I wish I could tell you what flavors I had, but I was given no notes. Nor did I take any. So you will have to live with the photos…
And my little purchase…
The Verdict: These were good. I liked them. But you know–they seemed just a little too soft and fragile. I know macarons don’t travel well, but seriously, these died so much earlier than the ones I’ve purchased from Yauatcha and Ladurée. They demanded to be eaten. Immediately.
And I obliged.
The Verdict: Still a good visit in Paris. Smaller than I expected. And the macarons? Well, just a bit too soft.
7 comments
I feel pretty ashamed that I lived in Paris for three years and never heard of the place!!! I love macarons, but how did Pierre compare with La Durée?
Probably the best chocolatier in France and probably the world. I’ve sampled some of his wonderful masterpieces at Helene Darroze (not cheap!) and I do look forward to visiting his shop in paris in June
According to my own incredibly geeky notes, it looks like you were given: (clockwise from top left corner)
– ‘mogador’: passionfruit and milk chocolate
– jasmine
– not sure – filling looks like green tea?
– cassis
– not sure
– rose
If you can, try to visit Sadaharu Aoki. There is a branch on Rue Vaugirard (maybe 15 minutes walk from Pierre Herme) and at Gourmet LaFayette. Despite the amazing macaron flavours, they were a little hard when I tried them but try the Matcha eclairs or the Matcha Duomo – they were both delicious!
Yes, I’ve been to Sadaharu Aoki in Tokyo at Isetan and it was GREAT. I
totally got in trouble for taking photos though! I think one of my PH
macarons was wasabi?
I think I like Laduree’s better…
When I was last in Paris (in November 08), there was no queue at Pierre Herme’s Rue Cambon shop (which is macarons-only), making it my fave Pierre Herme location.
You have to feel bad for that Kiehls next door on the Rue Bonaparte – how do customers get in and out of there with the Pierre Herme queue perpetually blocking their entrance?
Shame these were a little too soft. Although I am forever loyal to macarons from Laduree!
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