In an eye-catching scene from the 2006 film, Marie Antoinette, the infamous queen, played by Kirsten Dunst, is seen sitting surrounded by scrumptious French delicacies. On closer look, one specific delicacy stands out for its vibrant colour: the macaron. For the filming of the scene, the crew reached out to France’s foremost pâtisserie, Laduree, to supply the luxury almond macarons. Talking of their reason for choosing Laduree from a long list of macaron specialists, they were quoted as saying that it was Laduree’s legacy as being the inventor of macarons that sealed the deal.
THE FRENCH FANTASY
Laduree is an iconic confectionery brand with its oldest store dating back to 19th century Paris. Started in 1862 by Louis Ernest Ladurée, it is known for pioneering the concept of salons de thé, Parisian tea rooms that were venues for intellectually-driven conversations. Though for a long time it had only a single signature outlet in Paris on the Rue Royale, it has since gone international and now has a presence in 25 countries. It now has a footprint in India, easily one of the countries with the most number of sweet-cravers.
INDIAN RECONNASAINCE
For its foray into the Indian market, the confectioners have signed up with the CK Israni Group to open the first outlet at Delhi’s Khan Market. Talking of the tie-up with Laduree, Chandni Nath Israni, co-founder of the group, says: “I remember the first time I walked into Ladurée in Paris, it was magical. That’s why this is a passion project for me.”
The first Indian store is spread over 1,800 sqft in a three-storeyed building. The interiors have been inspired by Parisian designs. The high-end outlet was styled under the supervision of Paris-based architect, Claudia Ravnbo, with a focus on wholesomely bringing together the Indian and French aesthetical preferences. Referring to their work in Delhi, she says: “We’ve used traditional Ladurée greens, the counter spaces have been revisited to look more modern compared to the old counters. And there is an Indian twist too—the usage of arched mirrors and the strong pink and apricot tones, which display a sort of maximalism to emphasise the rich, colourful culture, while the chairs are French-chic displaying a 19th-century style”.
While the restaurant is primarily focused on dine-in at the moment, all the products on offer are available for takeaways as well. Keeping in with the typical Laduree salon styling, the ground floor has been dedicated to French patisserie and macarons, while the other two floors have been given a dine-in setup.
THE PATTISERIE
To ensure that they match up to standards set out in other Laduree locations around the globe, Laduree India has been sourcing its ingredients from Paris and has onboarded one of its most experienced chefs, Godfroy Leinenkugel, to run the India kitchen.
It has kept much of its classic offerings like brunch and high-tea items like avocado toast, croque-monsieur, and versions of eggs Benedict with brioche toast. But to be in tune with the Indian palate preferences, the Parian macron virtuoso decided to bring its offering here with a desi twist. If you take a look at the menu, you will come across delicacies like the rose cake with candied rose petals soaked in fragrant rose syrup and chicken tikka sandwiches that cater to the desi palate. Adding to this is the fact that Laduree’s chefs are now specifically working on developing India themed recipes that will cater to different festivals.
After having entered the Indian market, Laduree now looks to further expand its footprint in the country. Ronan Le Mestre, chief international officer at Ladurée, says that in the next five years, the group aims to open 15-20 Ladurée branded restaurants, pop-ups, carts and stores across India. Though Delhi has a string of other popular french outlets offering similar delicacies, it’s Laduree’s yearning to bring the French ‘art de vivre’ to India that sets it apart.
So, to all French cuisine connoisseurs here in India, get ready to grab a bite of Paris’ favourite macaron at the country’s latest Instagram worthy address, in stores near you.
