THE PARIS MACARON MARATHON. A COLLECTION OF FLAVORS IS BORN.

Parisians are, and always have been, seduced by sensual flavors. From as far back as the 18th century, they have not ceased in their quest for the most tantalizing, innovative macarons. Each year, the city’s patisseries battle it out to create the latest blissful flavor. Today, you can find macarons in every shape, size, color and flavor all over Paris, but there are some that absolutely must not be missed. From the craziest artisans to the cliché of the most renowned Parisian patisseries, I have selected one macaron flavor from each shop to create a 42-kilometer (23-mile) journey of pleasure: Discover Paris through one of its favorite delights. Paris is laid out like a snail (or a macaron!), with the 1st arrondissement at its center, so we will travel from arrondissement to arrondissement guided by the following nine deadly sins (or péchés capitaux!)…

1. Rose (Pierre Hermé, 4, rue Cambon, Paris 1er arrondissement) Glamorous, creamy, fresh…a legendary experience that only Pierre could have created. This rose is like a dream you’ll never forget. Filled with raspberries and litchis, the “Ispahan” macaron is truly mythical in the world of patisseries.

 2. Chocolate (Jean-Paul Hévin, 231, rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 1er arrondissement) Suave, intense, bitter… Jean-Paul’s chocolate is like an adventure. From your first bite, you dive into a magical sensuality, a never-ending feeling.... With his shop located 100 meters (about 300 feetfrom Place Vendôme, his “black pearls” could almost be considered jewelry! From your first bite into one of his macarons, you dive into a magical sensuality

3. Matcha (Sadaharu Aoki, 56, boul. de Port Royal, Paris 5e arrondissement) True heaven, another world of expression… a precise singularity. Like a cup of matcha, Sadaharu’s macaron reveals the intensity of this iconic and noble base. This unexpected pairing of cultures has created a timeless sensation.

4. Lemon (Gérard Mulot, 76, rue de Seine, Paris 6e arrondissement) The spirit of Saint-Germain almost sparkles in this outstanding delight. A perfect blend of acidity and sweetness transports you into the mystery of this pastry chemistry; its simple excellence reflects Gérard’s generous style.
 

5. Vanilla (Fauchon, 26, place de la Madeleine, Paris 8e arrondissement) Adam: There is no better name for a chef of such an institution! Christophe (Adam) has brought back the love that was missing, of late, from Fauchon creations and developed an unbelievable vanilla specimen. A true moment of Eden…

6. Fashion! (Arnaud Delmontel, 39, rue des Martyrs, Paris 9e arrondissement) In addition to this artisan’s fantastic creations, the “flavor” to celebrate here is fashion! André, contemporary artist and owner of the Hôtel Amour (located on the next street), has created for Arnaud a fantastic metal boxes – showcasing the artist’s mythical signature, “MrA” –  true Parisians icons that can be used to store precious collectibles.

7. Frozen (Lenôtre, 48, avenue Victor Hugo, Paris 16e arrondissement) Reinventing classicism was one of Gaston Lenôtre’s specialties. Putting a “frisson” of ice cream into these crispy envelopes creates an unexpected adventure…a deep pleasure offered in four simple flavors: chocolate, coffee, raspberry and vanilla.

8. Cherries and almonds (Arnaud Larher, 57, rue Damrémont, Paris 18e arrondissement) It’s as if the angels and the devils of Montmartre have met in this house of pleasure. The smoothness and purity of almonds being corrupted by the flirty attitude of amarena cherries: a divine and dangerous delight!

9. Salted-butter caramel (Ladurée, Château de Versailles, in Versailles but also with locations in Paris) A true mansion of the macaron, Ladurée has refined and redefined the style of this icon. Marie Antoinette would have loved the never-ending pleasure that the unique taste of this caramel provides. Charming, bewitching and addictive, it reflects the grand siècle that made France shine around the world. The opening of Ladurée in Château de Versailles this week is a natural tribute to our journey of pleasure and concludes this outstanding marathon.