First looking at Laduree

Om Nomz Hero Note to Self: Laduree is actually a French Consulate, pretty sure you can apply for a student visa there, fee is waived with a minimum of box purchase

I used to think the Bisous Ciao Macarons bags used to be an emasculated bag, but Laduree takes it. I could be fighting off a pack of wolves and drinking gasoline, but walk down street with that distinct emerald green Laduree bag, you are going 99% (may or may not include the ones on Wall Street) will be thinking, “cute bag” with the up most sarcasm, that you can conjure up.

The end of August marked the opening of Laduree, the French Consulate Parisian confectioner shop that makes their bones in making delectable macarons one of my favorite treats. The opening of this shop is the first one to hit American soil, it is kind of like Red Dawn except colorful, sugary, and no communists and Swayze.  Upon its opening, they lines for the shop have been long and endless like the lines for the 4GS. Although I personally have not been there, my quarter life celebration is coming up, and I was gifted with a small box of macarons.

Rose, vanilla, orange, raspberry, coffee, lemon, salted caramel, and cinnamon raisin

I got a box of 8 that contained rose, lemon, coffee, raspberry, vanilla, salted caramel, orange blossom and the exclusive New York flavor that debuted at fashion week, cinnamon raisin. The cinnamon raisin one was the mind blower here because it had an intense flavor and yet was light at the same time. There were actual bits of raisins in the filling. The only one that did not like as much was the Rose flavored which was a bit overpowering giving a popourri essence equivalent to your Mother in Law’s bathroom. Although Bisous is currently my favorite macaron producer in New York, there is a reason for their ridiculous long lines and Francophile worship, it is that good. The macarons are imported in daily, from French Land and with the frequent flier miles, these things still set the standard for macarons. Though these are going for 3 bucks a pop, making this most definitely a 1%er everyday thing, this is a special occasion or a once and a while purchase, not something you are picking up in the morning along with your Americano. 

 Laduree 

864 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10021

http://www.laduree.fr/en/scene

Mille-Feuille NYC: Its a fun word to say

Om Nomz Hero Note to Self: The French are Master Engineers of packaging...pastry packaging

Mille-feuille bakery is located on Laguardia Place by NYU and Washington Square and can easily be overlooked; the first time in search of this place, I actually walked by it, but the Subway nearby though was very noticeable. However to skip this place when you are having a sweet craving is a mistake. Mille-feuille bakery is a French pastry shop opened by Olivier Dessyn whose past experience has been at Pierre Hermé, pastry legend that would make the Pilsbury Dough Boy white with fear (well…whiter I guess). Pierre Hermé was making macarons before it was cool, giving him ultimate hipster street credibility. Dessyn’s former employment is reason enough for anyone in search of buttery French pastries. Sweets after the jump!

Buvette: Francophiles and Italianos in Harmony

Om Nomz Hero Note to Self: I still hate communal dining tables

The vintage looking bike is the only indications that you really have that you are at Buvette. That was all I knew about the place when I went to seek it out Saturday night, look for the quirk, vintage looking bike filled with corkscrews. Thankfully, I did not make myself look like a complete idiot stopping in from of every bike on Grove Street, seeing if there was a restaurant around there. Buvette is a fairly new place opened up by Jody Williams and it is best described as a Franco-Italian Tapas bar. 

Wine Board

DIY Bar Snacks of Walnuts

Walking into Buvette, it is cramping, tight and cozy. You will be getting to know your neighbors pretty well so discussing top government state secrets is out when coming here. The décor of the place can easily carry a conversation with its clutter walls of decorative plates, a blackboard mapping out their wine origins and in the backroom where we sat, a quirky chandler that looked like it is composed of Christmas lights, pitchers, and silverware. It is the kind of place that I can imagine a real life Pippy Longstockings would run and was into Dada art. However, I have concluded like Hello Kitty merchandise, it will make any girl coo and constantly remind you how “cute” everything is. We were seated in the back on a communal dining table which fits into the overall feel of the place but I unfortunately do not really like. My issue with communal tables is the privacy issue and like it or not, you are going to get cozy with strangers and hear their conversations and hear the lady next to you complain about how the majority of dishes have cheese and wrongfully tell her nonchalant husband erroneous facts about pasteurized cheeses in the US. (Lady, you are in a French and Italian restaurant, of course there is going to be cheese!)

Dada art or ambient lighting?

 Food, onward!!

Bisous Ciao Macarons

Om Nomz Hero Note to Self: Bring manly looking bag to disguise feminine macron bag 
 
Real men watch the Jets game and eat macarons. At least that is what I am telling myself while sitting here watching the Jets game…and eating macarons. But if it was a choice between Pringles and Frenchy macarons, I choose the macarons.

Bisous Ciao opened in the summer of 2010 in the Lower East Side and is a minimalist store. It is just a chilled case of macarons and a cash register. There is a very small counter towards the window front that I think you can maybe eat the macarons in the store, but it is basically a takeout kind of a place.

This is pretty much it to the store.

The store goes right to the point and sells macarons. Bisous Ciao makes 16 varieties, and currently have 4 seasonal macarons which are the peppermint chocolate, the masala spiced chai, the pecan caramel and the cranberry. All of these macarons were bursting with intense flavor especially the masala spiced chai, tasted like Slumdog Millionare. Each spice in the macaron from the subtle cloves to the touch of ginger explodes immediately after biting into it. Aside from the seasonal flavors I picked up their salted caramel (their signature) and the gianduja. All the macarons had a delicate thin crust and soft, chewy meringue which a rich and intense filling. Eating a good macaron such as this, like in the movie, Next Friday "makes you wanna slap yo Momma". Please do not hit your mother or women, I do not advocate domestic abuse. 

 Left to Right: Salted Caramel, Pecan Caramel, Cranberry, Peppermint Chocolate, Masala Chai and the Gianduja.

Although the macarons are pricey, clocking in at 2.25 a piece this is something that everyone should selfishly indulge in or guilt trip a loved one into purchasing for you. One thing about the French is that they do not skimp on packaging. The macarons come in a fashionable box and sleek bag. Its one of those bags that you keep, even though you may never use it but you keep it because it would be such a waste to throw out, I mean look at it! It has a bow on it! I’m serious, real men eat macarons. Excuse me while I go do some ultra manly stuff like eating glass and fighting lions. Brb.

Seriously, look at the box they give it to you in and bag. Frenchies knows how to do up presentation.

 Bisous Ciao Macarons
101 Stanton St.
NYC 10002
http://www.bisousciao.com/