Everyone, meet Miss Gla'Gla Ispahan.
Miss Gla'Gla, meet everyone.
Pierre Hermé is so famous it's an institution of its own. It puts out a beautiful catalog with all its seasonal offering and lures passerbys with sleek cases filled with beautiful sweets and pastries, including decadent macarons.
When I first arrived in the suffocating Paris a month ago (has it really been a month?), this place was at the top of my "must try" list. I finally discovered that it was only two Metro stops away, a straight shoot up the street from school.
Although the air conditioning felt divine and I wanted to linger, I determinedly walked straight up to the counter and asked for a Miss Gla'Gla Ispahan. (Yes, to answer the question in your head, I did feel a little ridiculous asking for something with such a name.) The nice man smiled knowingly, disappeared behind the door, and came back a few minutes later with the above beauty on a tray.
One bite and I fell in love: two rose-flavored macarons sandwiched raspberry and lychee sorbet. It was tart, sweet, cold, chewy, and crunchy all at the same time. Put my own Bouchon macarons to shame, although admittedly, they are different creatures. You can't really compare sorbets with buttercream. Especially lychee sorbet.
It was so good I thought, "If I accidentally dropped this on the floor, I would still pick it up and eat it. Even off a Paris sidewalk."
This creation is quite light and refreshing: macarons usually contain very little fat, and sorbets obviously don't. Still, Miss Gla'Gla is quite a large dessert, especially by French standards, but it was perfect since it became became my lunch that day.
Oh, and Miss Gla'Gla is a chameleon- she comes in other flavors like caramel and chocolate. These are filled with real ice cream in case your tastes run more indulgent... Anyone who comes out to visit me will be dragged into Pierre Hermé, even if not by choice. I saw someone on the street carrying one of their boxes today and was tempted to tackle him.
Pierre Hermé - Two Locations, both open until 7:30PM, closed Mondays
72 Rue Bonaparte
75006 Paris
Tel. 01 43 54 47 77
Métro: St. Sulpice or St. Germain des Pres
185 Rue de Vaugirard
75015 Paris
Tel. 01 47 83 89 96
Métro: Pasteur
Bon appétit!
Oh thank you! Just noted that your post was dated in year 2005 but still, I am going Paris in 3 weeks time and I am also determined to try Miss Gla'Gla!
Posted by: The Merry Traveller | August 16, 2009 at 09:18 PM