Fine. I’ll admit it. And I’ll do it without shame!

I’m a macaron fanatic.

There, I said it.

It’s not easy being very partial to a food that isn’t as readily accessible, nor as qualitatively made, outside of a certain geographical area. True, macarons are gaining more traction and are being offered more readily in Toronto in recent years. However, while there are some fabulous places Torontonian stores that offer them (click here to see a list of my favourite macaron stores in the 6ix), there are times that I find myself craving a nice Marie-Antoinette or Vanille from Ladurée, akin to the ones I used to eat in Paris.

Imagine my excitement at knowing that a Ladurée was opening up in Yorkdale! The new café-cum-afternoon tea parlour was supposed to offer the French experience at a Canadian doorstep.

My only worry: would it taste the same? It would be such a letdown if one of my top macaron brands didn’t maintain its reputation abroad.

And so, I desperately needed to know if it upheld the reputation. Let’s let this investigative journey begin!

During one of my visits, I had the pleasure of being served by a kind and knowledgable French woman. She had moved to Canada from one of the banlieues (suburbs) of Paris. As a Parisian, she was quite accustomed to the cuisine and local desserts, including (of course) Ladurée’s macarons!

Now, before we delve into the taste, here are some pre-eating images showcasing the beauty of the café. They really went above and beyond with the décor, and the lollipop pink & teal interior will please any admirer of frills and thrills:

As a passing comment, I mentioned how astonished I was that the ones available in Canada were quite similar in quality and taste to the ones I had eaten back in France. She informed me that the reason the taste is so similar is that they ship in their ingredients from Switzerland. In fact, all international branches of Ladurée source their ingredients from the Swiss, and only the French outposts use French ingredients. This ensures relative consistency and amongst products representing the brand abroad.

Here are some photos of the food me and some friends tried:

Ok, brief pause from the photos!

I will say that the aesthetics of the Torontonian outpost differ from those located in Paris, London, and Japan. Let’s just say, they were a lot more liberal with their usage of millennial pink throughout the café. It practically feels like you’re walking into a giant cotton-candy coloured dream, but I am sort of a fan of that ambiance!. It certainly makes me feel as though I’m sipping my tea in a café straight out of Sex and the City.

On top of the macarons, I’ve also sampled many coffees and teas. The tea tastes identical to the ones in France, but the coffees I don’t think are up to par. The rose latte, if you don’t mind too milk a drink, is surprisingly pleasant!

As a whole, I’d recommend the teas, but not the coffees.

The Verdict

So… do the Macarons from Ladurée in Toronto do the Parisian store justice?

The answer is a resounding yes!

As someone who has lived in Paris, I am pleased to report that the quality of the macarons is very similar. The Canadian outpost at Yorkdale has even added its own spin on some of the flavours by offering a “maple syrup” macaron. It’s a lot more delicious than it has any right to be…

If you’re looking to find delicious and good quality Macarons in Toronto, Ladurée (albeit pricey) is a safe bet. The location alone makes this enterprise stand out, and well worth a visit. The taste of the macarons, while not identical, are very similar to the products in France. It’s nice to know there’s an easy way to get your French kick when you’re in the city!

Bon appétit!