The Laduree Tokyo Experience.

Laduree is one of the most famous Parisien cake houses and has expanded it's presence to the whole world. I've been to the flagship store in Paris, and there, I gained 1kg in a single sitting through munching through what I previously thought was an inhuman amount of macarons. Still, as people say, the woman always has more space for desert and I intend to prove that moving forward.

Today however, the Laduree I'm visiting is not in Paris, it's actually in Tokyo. Initially surprised to see a French bakery in Japan, I thought it might have been a fake store or something alike, but my curiosity (and desire for desert) brought me in for a closer inspection.

I realised that this was the real deal and that Laduree had truly expanded it's presence all the way to far east asia. Of course, I'm exceptionally happy that I can now enjoy authentic French Macarons in the relative vicinity of my own home. I no longer have to travel all the way to Europe to get my fix of mini sugary hamburger shaped cakes.

Every detail from the menu, to the decor, and table fixtures are like the Paris flagship store. Walking past the front house, you'll see a lot of take away Macarons and cakes. These are often sold as gifts, while those who sit down to dine will eat freshly baked ones.

This is why, you should always order from the menu, and make sure that they serve you not the macarons from the take away concession, but from the kitchen!

Opting for the afternoon tea experience, the big cakes include macarons all around the edge of the cakes with a large swirl of whipped cream on top. The sugar dose is far above the acceptable healthy intake of daily sugar, but who gives a damn!

This is Laduree macarons we're talking about, the world famous macarons that people travel half the way round the world to enjoy. I think I can get away with it just this time.

Sweetness is best countered with some sourness, and what better than orange juice and some plain tea? It appears the bakery has understood this as these were both served simultaneously without prompt.

Perhaps the best aspect of Laduree isn't even the macarons or any of the deserts/food it serves. It is for me, the environment. You don't get the same opportunity to sit in Franco Parisien decorated rooms anywhere else in Tokyo, in-fact it's very rare even in Paris. There is simply too much class being exuded in this place, and likewise, many or most of the guests at Laduree have come dressed to impress, fitting with the motif of the venue, but also the unspoken etiquette of this classic high end cake shop.