When visiting Budapest, don't miss Chez Dodo in the city centre. It's absolutely the best place for macarons in Budapest. I just had a tea break there and chose a seasonal giant chocolate macaron filled with figs and goat cheese - not a typical macaron, but super delicious.

Chez Dodo was established in 2014 by Dora (nickname Dodo) and her friend Peter. It all started when Dodo noticed that there's not a really good macarons available in Budapest. At first she tried to make them at home, but the results were not exactly what she wanted, so she decided to go and learn all the tricks of macaron making in Paris.

Coming back to Budapest she made deliciois and experimental macarons for her family & friends at night and still kept her day job. It didn't take long until she made up her mind, quited her job and started macaron business with Peter.

There are 20 different macaron flavours at the moment. I still haven't tried all of them, but my favourite ones so far are Jean Pierre - salted caramel, Juliette - ginger, lemon and Charlotte - lemon, lavender. All the macarons are made on the spot. You can actually watch the macaron making even through the shop window. Only best ingredients are used in these artisan macarons, no added sugar nor artificial flavours.

The shop & cafe area is small & cosy, and super cute with hand-painted hummingbirds on the wall. Love it!

~~~~

Älä skippaa Chez Dodoa Budapestissa käydessäsi! Se on yksinkertaisesti kaupungin paras macaron-paikka. Kävin siellä teellä ja valitsin sesongin erikoisuuden jättimäisen suklaa-macaroninin tuoreilla viikunoilla ja vuohenjuustolla. Aika erikoinen, mutta niin herkullinen.

Dora (lempinimeltään Dodo) perusti Chez Dodon vuonna 2014 yhdessä ystävänsä Peterin kanssa.  Kaikki alkoi siitä, kun Dodo ei etsinnöistä huolimatta ollut tyytyväinen Budapestista löytyvään macaron-tarjontaa. Aluksi hän kokeili macaronien tekoa kotona, mutta lopputulos ei ollut ihan sitä mitä hän toivoi, joten hän päätti lähteä Pariisiin macaron-oppiin.

Dodon tullessa takaisin Budapestiin, hän piti päivätyönsä, mutta alkoi tehdä herkullisia ja kokeellisia macaroneja perheenjäsenilleen ja ystävilleen iltaisin. Ei mennyt kauaa, kun hän päätti irtosanoutua työstään ja aloittaa oman macaron-busineksen Peterin kanssa.

Tällä hetkellä eri macaron-makuja on 20. En ole vielä kokeillut ihan kaikkia, mutta tähän astiset suosikkini ovat Jean Pierre - suolakaramelli, Juliette - inkivääri-sitruuna ja Charlotte - sitruuna-laventeli. Kaikki macaronit tehdään paikan päällä ja valmistusprosessia voi itseasiassa seurata jopa kadulta käsin kaupan ikkunasta. Näissä käsintehdyissä macaroneissa käytetään vain parhaita raaka-aineita, eikä niihin lisätä sokeria eikä keinotekoisia makuaineita.

Chez Dodon myymälä ja kahvila on pieni mutta kodikas tila. Päätyseinä on koristeltu käsin maalatuilla kolibreilla. Aivan ihana!

'Desszert neked' In Budapest

Found the other day a nice place for macarons and cakes in Budapest. Worth paying visit if you happen to be somewhere near Paulay Ede utca. Desszert neked ('dessert for you') also organizes dessert courses - great idea!

Paulay Ede utca 17, 6th district.

Pierre Herme

"Oh yes, macarons. Those crisp but chewy, light-as-air meringue cookies. 

Not the big, hulking Italian confections that are often made with coconut. 

French macarons are different. They are delicate yet persnickety. A feat of mixing, folding, stirring, and timing. 

A delightful combination of powdered sugar, finely ground almonds, and egg whites and not much else, 

save for the luxuriously creamy ganache or buttercream filling that holds the two cookies together. 

Ferm but tender, shiny yet ridged, with ethereally light shells and heavy middles, they're miniature studies of contests - and deliciousness."

Pierre Herme on 185 rue de Vaugirard.

"In Paris there're 2 kinds of people:those who think Pierre Herme makes the best macaroons and those who believe Laduree's are the best. What many people don't know, even ardent macaron worshippers, is that Pierre Herme once worked for Laduree, the traditional salon de the with roots back to 1862."

"Pierre Herme became consulting pastry chef at Laduree, opening the magnificent Champs-Elysees location. But ultimately, he was a little too rock and roll for the traditional outfit."

"If you ask me, both Pierre Herme and Laduree have their merits. Pierre Herme's macarons are still made by hand; Laduree's are assembled by machines. But Laduree's macaroons and boxes are also less espencive and the experience is more transcending. 

Brand and taste, preference and prejudices, the debate rages on: whose macaroons are the perfect balance of crisp to chewy to melty? 

Who has the most sublime flavour combinations? 

Who has the richest ganache? 

Whose are the prettiest? 

Ultimately, it's a quiestion that's nearly impossible to answer."

Amy Thomas - the author of 'Paris My Sweet-A Year In The City of Light (And Dark Chocolate)'

I love Amy's book! It's a real treasure map of Paris & New York for all sweet-tooth.

I've always been a huge Laduree fan. Had a chance in the beginning of this month while in Paris to visit Pierre Herme's at 185 rue de Vaugirard and taste some of his funky macarons.

Loved the Infiniment Jasmin & Veloute Banane (shown in the pic)!

Btw, later bought also some divine chocolate at Pierre Herme's 39 avenue de l'Opera store.

ps. there're several locations all around Paris to get 

Pierre Herme's macarons.

Tea Break

 Had a nice cup of Earl Grey tea 

at Bagatelle Bakery in MOM Park.

Macarons!

Which one to choose this time?

 Pistachio and banana

- banana one was not so delicious, a bit bitter

 Bagatelle has opened recently this small cafe and take-out place.

Well, it could have been there for some time already...

haven't been visiting MOM Park for ages.

 White with lavender as an accent colour

gives nice and fresh touch to the cafe.

Very un-Hungarian, by the way.

 Detail of a chandelier above a table.

As a heavy-user of tea, have to mention that 

Yogi teas are my favourite ones!

They have a wide selection of infusions and blended green teas.

Haven't found them in Hungary yet,

fortunately it's not a weight issue to bring them here overseas.

Macarons

Macarons from Sofitel's

Paris Budapest Cafe

in Budapest

- the texture's too crispy

but still the best macaroons in Budapest,

especially the white vanilla one 

and brown mocha one

Paris Budapest Restaurant

Szechenyi Istavan ter 2

V, Budapest

www.parisbudapest.hu

Laduree Covent Garden

 There's a new Laduree opened in Covent Garden

- went there for lunch

 Scottish salmon with green sprouts

- lovely!

A pot of orange blosson tea

and 3 macarons:

pistachio

orange blosson

liqrice

- Laduree macarons're absolutely the best ones! 

Ladurée Covent Garden

1, The Market Covent Garden

 London, WC2E 8RA

Speaking of which, Laduree has arrived to New York!

- there's a shop just opened on

864 Madison Avenue (71st Street)

"These small, round cakes, crisp on the outside,

smooth and soft in the middle,

 are the most famous creation of Ladurée.

The story of the Ladurée macaron

starts with Pierre Desfontaines,

second cousin of Louis Ernest Ladurée,

who at the beginning of the 20th century

first thought of taking two macaron shells

and joining them with a delicious ganache filling.

These small, round cakes, crisp on the outside,

smooth and soft in the middle,

 are made every morning in Ladurée’s “laboratory”.

The pastry chefs measure out very precisely

the required amounts of almonds, eggs and sugar,

before adding one final ingredient,

a pinch of unique “know-how”,

essential to the making of such a delicacy.

Once cooked and filled,

the macaroons are put to one side

for 2 days before going on sale,

 the time it takes to achieve

a perfect balance between texture and flavour.

With each new season,

Ladurée pays tribute to its most famous creation

by creating a new flavour.
The existing range of macarons is always the starting point

when a new one is created,

as the variety of colours is as important as

the range of flavours

and a vital part of their appeal."



Lunch Time In London

 Not a big fan of British Cuisine...

 Farmers' Market at Covent Garden

- didn't have lunch there

although lots of possibilities,

instead went to...

 ...the Food Halls of Harrods

and picked the Sea Grill

as a lunch place

Crab salad

- even after eating freshly cooked lobsters

in The Bahamas found this crab salad delicious!

.

 After lunch went to Laduree,

which is actually inside Harrods

 Laduree's macarons can't be beaten!

Ordered liquirice, rose & violet ones

- instead of violet got black currant,

well, not my favourite but ate it anyway

.

 Later bought some liquirice & rose macarons

to take home

- they are just so gorgeous!

.

 Beautifully displayed enormous Herend plate

with butterflies at Harrods

After lunch, macarons and

all the walking in Harrods

wanted to lay down to this sunbed on 5th floor

Food

What else one can eat while in London?

Package of crisps,

salt & vinegar, of course
.

Heavenly macarons from Ladurée

- it's French,

but can't resist of these macaroons

- nice (& crowded) small shop

in Burlington Arcade,

just on the way to Abercrombie & Fitch
.

Tuna bread
at Westfield Shopping Center
- nice & fresh!
.
Westfield is a huge place
with ALL the shops!
.

A Box..

Got this box...

.
... full of macaroons!
.
As said before,
not like the Laduree's ones,
but yet delicious
&
A great gift to receive
when having a nasty flu!
.

Cadeau

Great macaroon place in Budapest!

Cadeau

Veres Pálné utca 8.

1053 Budapest
.

2 rasberry macaroons,

2 rose, 2 lilac, 1 pistachio, 1 lemon

mini-macaroons

.

http://www.cadeaubonbon.hu/

http://www.cukraszok.hu/

.

Veres Pálné utca

- very nice street, one of my favourite!!

- there are a flower shop, a tea shop, a chocolate shop...
.

Dangerous looking job going on

on Veres Pálné utca!

.

Laduree - rue Royale

After all that "little" walk.

time for a cup of tea

.

Walked in to heaven,

to Laduree!

Never been able to leave London

without a box of macaroons from Burlington Arcade's Laduree,

but this place in Paris,

just gorgeous!

.

Pistachio & coffee macaroon

and a mint mini-macaroon

with a cup of Laduree's Earl Grey tea

.

Laduree

16, rue Royale

75008 Paris

http://www.laduree.fr/

metro: Concorde/Madeleine

.

This was one of the first tearooms in Paris,

a place where a woman could go alone,

as opposed to cafes,

and the interior has remained unchanged since 1862.

The charming room is in unadulterated Empire style,

and is worth a visit just to feel how life was in the old days.

You may become addicted to the many different-flavoured home-made macaroons,

and they are a delightful little present.

Eat them freshly baked.

After a cup of tea, on with the shopping trip -

Gucci is waiting for you on the other side of the street

as well as Chanel, them Hermes...

.Opera de Paris Garnier

Place de l'Opera
75009 Paris

- didn't visit inside,

during the stay there was a ballet but unfortunately sold out every night

- inaugurated 1875, construction work took 13 years

- Neo-Baroque style, Beaux-Arts

.

Macarons

Bought some macarones at Lukacs on Sunday

....

Green: pistachio

Brown: chocolate-mocca

- both delicious!

- the filling was not made of cream as normally in macarones but of sort of paste

- probably the reason had been that the paste filling stays fresh longer thn the creamy one

- a minus for the price:

390,-ft/1pc

..