Last week, one of my favorite editors brought me a pretty little box of rose-flavored macarons from Ladurée in Paris. How fun is this new Valentine's inspired box designed by two Ottoman princesses? I love the repeating pattern of silhouettes on the top of the box.

[1. & 2. Ladurée]

i've already written about my love for laduree macaron and the pleasures of finding the newest trends in confiture, but this towering candle, that stands almost a foot tall, is an extravagant display of confectionary perfection--and quite literally takes the cake.

"At Point à la Ligne, making candles is still a very hands-on process: molds are carved by hand, one by one the wax for each candle is poured, and the final product is given hand painted accents. In the world of wax, their commitment to quality and craftsmanship make their candles stand out as works of art. Point à la Ligne has been manufacturing quality candles from the Bordeaux region of France for over 35 years."


hand-poured and recreated in meticulous detail by Point à la Ligne in Paris, it is incredible to imagine the amount of work that has gone into the formation of such a temporary sculpture. exquisite as it is, you may have difficulties setting it aflame--but what a birthday candle to set before your loved ones. put your order in at the rose and radish.




I must also mention the "forever cupcake," which the rose and radish stocks as well. food made of plaster--how very japanese.

you would be wise to take their advice upon gifting this item: It could go [very] wrong if the recipient doesn't have a sense of humor and you don't have a real cake hidden somewhere.

Ah, the French macaron—the perfection of a light crispy biscuit that can only be truly enjoyed fresh from Paris--which is perhaps why Ladurée doesn't ship internationally. 

Could it be the lovely box, the gentle papers cradling the macarons, or the Spring palette of colours that bring me so much excitement? A friend at work brought me some from Ladurée, my favorite patisserie in Paris, when he arrived in New York from the AW 2008 haute couture shows.

As a child, I could only imagine why Nora would sneakily indulge herself of such sweets behind closed doors in Ibsen's A Doll’s House. Now, I know why. It is all too easy to polish off a box of these fine treats.

Perfectly respectable versions of this delightful French confection are available in New York at Fauchon via Neiman Marcus, Payard Patisserie, and a slightly larger version from Bouchon Bakery.