Laduree Vancouver's Hidden Gems

This is Part 1 of 3 of my recent Vancouver Adventures that I shared with Deborah Moore this morning on AM1470.

Ever since my first visit to Laduree, each time I re-visited, I became an even bigger fan of the amazing flown-in-from-France macarons, beautiful branded gifts and a to-die-for raspberry rose french toast. After spending a dreamy afternoon tea date at Laduree in Vancouver, I had the opportunity to return and try some of their hidden gems and learn a little more about the world of Laduree. Here are a few:

Macaron Cocktails

The Vancouver location on Robson street now serves macaron inspired cocktails, wines and champagne. It's such a wonderful addition to the afternoon tea experience which you usually only find at tea services in hotels.

I had the chance to try the Macaron Citron and Isaphan, both of which are equally beautiful. The Macaron Citron is topped with a refreshing lemon macaron, it has a nice lemon flavour and contains tequila which gives it a harder edge going down. In contrast, the Isaphan is a sleek Grey Goose, Chambord, lychee and rose concoction that goes down smooth, starts sweet and finishes dry. It's a perfect tribute to the Isaphan macaron that is known for it's iconic pairing of lychee and rose together.

Left: Macaron Citron is topped with a macaron au citron and contains Tequila, limoncello, lemon syrup, lemon-flavoured cream, lemon macaron $16. Right: Ispahan contains Grey Goose, Chambord, lychee liqueur, rose syrup. $17

Ice Cream

One thing I didn't know until recently is Laduree ice cream. Since it is getting hot, ice cream is definitely on the list for a friendly gathering. On one particularly hot day after Sunday Brunch and shopping on Robson street, a few girlfriends and I dropped in for a little ice cream party there. Yes, you can walk it and have a little treat anytime. Although some may think a visit to Laduree is usually reserved for special occasions, it's perfectly fine to walk-in anytime without reservations and the staff are more than helpful in finding a table for you.

Lot's of work and preparation goes into making these ice creams, a pastry chef from France is flown in occasionally to make batches of these which makes it all the more special. Rose and pistachio were my favourites. The rose was very fragrant and the pistachio had a nutty aroma, both brought out the creaminess of the ice cream since they were naturally not sour. It's everything I want from my dessert - not too sweet and creamy.

And if you're in a hurry for sit-down service or you'd like to bring the ice cream home to enjoy with your family, you can also take these ice creams to go. The to-go version also has a cute little macaron on top!

The strawberry is true to taste with real strawberries so it is a bit tart. Vanilla is a classic fit for any age group while the raspberry is mouthwatering-ly tangy.

Isaphan Sundae. It has a scoop each of rose and raspberry ice cream, chunks of lychee and raspberry topped with whipped cream and raspberry sauce. It is so delicious!

The take-away version of the ice cream comes with a little macaron on top!

Chocolates with a Surprise on the Inside!

I love chocolates with hidden surprises on the inside and here is one that tops them all - a macaron surprise! Wow! Isn't that wonderful? Once you bite into the chocolate, there is an appealing contrast of textures between the soft flavoured creams and chewy macaron shell. It makes a wonderful gift for the macaron lover in your life, they will be delighted with this sweet little surprise.