I once sat next to La Maison Du Chocolat's master chef Gilles Marchal at Spondi in Athens. Of course I had no idea who he was. When Spondi's chef Arnaud Bignon came out to talk to him personally, the staff clued me in Years later I'm buying some of his creations on my way out of Paris. All the locals were saying that Laduree was on the downhill for desserts and that the likes of Georges Larnicol and Maison Du Chocolat were a better option. Sure enough my friend felt the Laduree macrons were a bit on the sad side and maybe all reputation now. The MDC macarons were pretty sensational. My friend went through a half dozen in no time. As a person who doesn't pick sweets as a first avenue Im still sold. read more