Several weeks ago, Jodi went to Laduree with her friends Greg and Fletcher. She of course had to tell me what people ordered and that made me want to go back there. So, on Columbus Day, we decided to go back, myself being eager to get that vol au vent I had the last time we went.

As it was a Holiday, there were not that many people and, the weather being great, we decided to reserve a table in their patio. That was perfect: not just because of the noise level that was not loud (it is something I cannot get used to), but also was like being transported to France, with some sort of laid back atmosphere, appreciating the fact that we were not rushed to be done and leave.

Menu wise, I did not really find an appetizer I absolutely had to try and went directly to the main dish, thinking that anyway I would get some desserts (notice the plural…). That’s when the vol au vent comes. Vol au vent is made with puff pastry. You kind of create a well that can be filled at your discretion, mostly savory. At Laduree, it is with a succulent sauce made with chicken, button mushrooms and morel mushrooms. Lots of morels!

I love this dish: the butter and flakiness of the vol au vent itself comes through, not fully overpowered by this delicious and homey sauce, but smothered by it and covered by the chicken and mushrooms in a decadent presentation. This is a must have and know that for dinner, they propose a vegetarian version.

Taking about vegetarian, they have a nice selection of vegetarian dishes, but Jodi was not lucky that day because they did not have the taboule de choux-fleur (cauliflower taboule) that she had the last time she went and so, she decided to go for their Quiche Veggie, made with zucchini, goat cheese, za’atar and sundried tomato. The quiche was very good: fluffy, moist and tasty, it was accompanied with fries that were thin and crispy.

Last was dessert: you cannot go to Laduree and not have dessert! Especially the macarons. We got 4 of them: 2 vanilla, 1 chocolate and 1 hazelnut. The hazelnut one was disappointing, missing the taste of hazelnut and tasting more like chocolate; the chocolate one was too dense; however, the vanilla one was delicious. They usually have good macarons and I think it is because of the choices we made (where is the salted caramel macaron?).

And of course, I could not resist ordering the Plaisir Sucre cake that is made with chocolate, hazelnuts, meringue biscuit, praline and a milk chocolate filling. This was fantastic: very chocolatey, contrary to the macaron, you could really taste the hazelnuts in the chocolate as well as the ones that were in the bottom. Dense and not too sweet, I love the different layers of this cake and texture with the crunchiness of the praline in the bottom. This is a must have if you love hazelnut!

I should mention that we ate our dessert with a tea for Jodi and a double macchiato for me.

So, this was a great meal: Laduree is a great place and they succeeded to create a French feel in a relaxed atmosphere. I will certainly go back, this time maybe to try their dinner!

Enjoy (I did)!

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