Dello Mano Sweet Tour 2020 went in search of Biscotti and specifically Cantucci in Florence. Leonardo was established in the 60’s and today has a beautiful store and laboratory just down from the Mercato di’ Sant Ambrogio. A great and very tasty visit! Continue reading Our search for Biscotti or is it Cantucci in Florence ?
Hello all! Phoebe here – Deborah’s eldest daughter and one quarter of the Dello Mano family. This year marks Dello Mano’s 13th birthday. What started as a humble stall at the New Farm Farmer’s markets, has now grown into a booming online business with two stores and all the heart of a small family business. I’ve now worked in the stores for the majority of … Continue reading To Italy, with love
Patrick Roger is a chocolate artisan like no other. Patrick Roger is very involved in every step of chocolate making–from acquiring ingredients, developing flavor combinations, tempering the chocolates and sculpting! With a team of less than 15, Patrick Roger comes up with grand creations that are delectable and very detailed.
The clean lines of the Patrick Roger shops really give the chocolates the chance to pop. Don’t let your eyes fool you, those bees and chickens you will see on the shelves aren’t porcelain or glass—they’re chocolates too! Entering his store and getting a taste of the chocolates made us feel like being in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. It’s handmade love for sure!
The day we visited the Patrick Roger Paris store, a one tonne block of chocolate in the window had been carved to a huge elephant. Something really amazing to see!
If you are in Paris and you’re looking for a chocolate gift then you will not be disappointed.
Flavor suggestions: anything with lemongrass, Sichuan peppercorn, pralines and caramels
Here at Dello Mano, we’re such advocates of handmade luxury food and products. While Dello Mano style is about refined rustic cakes and produce, Paris contines to provide us with inspiration in our commitment to handmade edible luxury. Paris is everything we dreamed about and more! The Parisian flair for creative artistry and distinct taste for opulence are such great influences, that we decided to share with you our love for the city of lights in a series we’ll be calling Paris est amour. Let’s get started with our favorite pastry shops:
In 1862, Louis Ernest Ladurée, a miller founded a bakery. After a fire, the bakery was transformed into a pastry shop in 1871, with popular painter Jules Cherét in-charge of the interiors. With a combination of Parisian-style cafés and French patisserie goodness, the company opened a tea room for women and became one of the pioneers in the area. Ladurée brand further rose to fame when Pierre Desfontaines (grandson of Louis Ernest Ladurée) thought of taking two macaron shells and joining them with ganache filling. The recipe for the ‘double-decker’ has not changed since then. Ladurée has been recognized as a French luxury sweets maker and the brand has also branched out to chocolates (Marquis Ladurée) and candles and home fragrances (Beauté Ladurée).
Fun Fact: The sweet treats Kirsten Dunst was eating in the film Marie Antoinette were from Ladurée, as chosen by director Sofia Coppola.
What we loved: The elegant interiors showed true Parisian flair. Together with the dainty packaging and fine china, it was a very luxurious experience. Of course, the delectable sweets are amazing. The Strawberry cake in the picture below has to be one of the most precious edibles we have ever seen. We loved too the secrecy. With much fuss about no photography it has to be one of the most photographed food shops in the world.
Must-try products: strawberry tarts, pistachio pain au chocolat, St. Honoré, world-famous macarons (flavors like Fleur d’oranger, licorice, cassis and chocolate yuzu)
Locations: Ladurée Houses can be found in several countries across the globe and is increasing as I type this note. For a complete list of locations click here.
Laduree – the glamorous interiorLaduree – most exciting cake.Laduree Raspberry cake enjoyed by team Dello Mano
We set out on a Dello Mano quest to explore great pastry in Paris and wow did we find it at Pierre Herme. For the brownie obsessed like us, there were no brownies as we know them (I say this with tongue in cheek) however, the amazing choice of pastry and chocolate was more than a little distraction. Herme has stores in France, Japan and England. … Continue reading Chocolate Brownies, no ….but macaroons yes!