Finger Lickin' Friday: Maison Laduree

(Little beauties. Found on La Tartine Gourmand)

It's been a long time since I've written a Finger Lickin' Friday post. Too long, really. But I really couldn't pass up the opportunity today to tell you all about my trip to Maison Laduree in NYC and the deliciousness that ensued.

Maison Laduree, as most of you likely know, is a world-famous patisserie that originally opened in Paris in 1862 as a tea salon. The shop(s) has become one of the most talked-about sweet-spots in the world thanks to the incredible confections that they make - most notably their french macarons - and their stunning brand design (well, for design geeks like me, that's one of the reasons I love Laduree!).

(Hello, adorable packaging. Picture found on Lobster and Swan)

French macarons are delicate little cookies made of ground almond and a meringue-like egg white batter sandwiched together using a myriad of fillings such as ganache, buttercream and jam. They are frustratingly finicky to make: too much mixing (the macaronage - the most important step) and you get wide, flat wafers. Too little mixing and they puff up. Too hot and they crack. Too cold and they don't get their little feet (the ring of bubbles along the bottom that signifies a well-baked macaron). I've attempted them myself to no avail. I'm a bit of a haphazard chef, so the finesse that these require isn't totally suited to my abilities (or lack thereof!). But, dang, if they aren't delicious!

(Beautiful Laduree box and delicious macarons. Found on Fashion + Class & Jetlag)

In any case, this past August, Laduree opened their 1st US location. The beautifully decorated shop is located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan and has made quite a splash in the NY sweets-loving scene. So, obviously, this past weekend while visiting my wonderful older brother in NYC (for his birthday! Happy Birthday, Alex!), I knew I had to make a trip to macaron mecca. On Sunday afternoon, we set out from the hip East Village to the decidedly more fancy-pants destination of 70th and Madison Avenue. Having been a far-away fan of Laduree for some time while never having actually tasted their goodies, I was giddy with excitement. While I knew that the opening had drawn crowds, I was not prepared for the 30+ minute-long line that we found upon our arrival at 4:30 in the afternoon several months after the grand opening. People really want macarons, it seems. We debated for a moment just throwing in the towel, but I knew I would regret not visiting so we settled in for a little people watching and mingling. Alex is a pretty great big brother.

(Waiting in line to get into the shop.)

It was a long wait for a 1.4" diameter cookie, but I'm happy to report that Maison Laduree did not disappoint. We got a sampling of flavors that included Pistachio, Salted Caramel, Blackberry, Coconut and Chocolate and they came beautifully nestled in an adorable little box. The macarons were the perfect mixture of delicate crunchy shell and soft, chewy inside and creamy, luxurious filling. The flavors were balanced and mouthwatering. And, while not cheap ($2.70 per plus the cost of a box if you don't want them in a wax-paper bag), they did live up to the hype in my mind. I'm already dreaming of my next visit!

(Inside Laduree)
(Me with my prized possessions)

crumby, rainy afternoon...

It's on days like these that I wish I had a big cozy sofa to nuzzle into, with a hot cup of tea and a yummy candle burning :) Don't you?

The only problem is...

Our candle selection here at Gus & Ruby Letterpress is impossibly wonderful. And I mean - IMPOSSIBLY!!! wonderful. I was just saying yesterday how I wanted to rub my face in one of the candles?! What?! Is that normal? Or are the delicious and perfect floral and holiday scents seriously impeding my senses?

Regardless - I don't care. Because it smells deeeeee-licious here at the shop, and I want to share some of the love - with

Y.

O.

U.

All of our candles right now are made in the United States, hand-poured and 100% soy. They burn clean, all the way down to the absolute most-bottomest part of the jar :)

You are all familiar with our Aquiesse candles, which we'll be carrying in great new stocking stuffer sizes this year!

Luxe Linen and Pink Peony are our every-day best-sellers, but Monterey Pine is so popular that last year we literally couldn't keep it on the shelves. The beautiful boxes they come in still knock my socks off. And for those of you looking for a great hostess gift for your Grammy or best friend who's hosting turkey day this year: see Cinnamon Tabac. They'll love you (more than they already do) for it!

A recent addition to our every-day gift offerings here at Gus & Ruby are the crisp and clean designs and scents from Sydney Hale Company. Many of you have already snatched these oober awesome candles up. I love the sleek design and the fact that these could easily be given as gifts to that guy in your life who you never know what to buy for (because those boys always need a little extra hand in the get-my-place-to-smell-fresh department).

Oh, and did I mention they have a candle called Cocoa & Espresso... and it smells like you're baking fresh, delicious, decadent chocolate chunk cookies... from scratch.... in your own oven... seconds after it's lit. Right - you want this candle now, don't you :)

For those of you trying to diet before the holidays. My sincerest apologies. This candle will not help you fix your cravings for delicious homemade cookies. Maybe you should try the Grapefruit & Orange?

Just a thought...

And because I'm feeling extra generous, I'll let you know that we also have our holiday Paddywax scents in! In both small, ceramic jars and diffusers these home scents are really wonderful. How they manage to get the smell of Snow right is beyond me... but this is the candle I was trying to stick my face in yesterday. So I'll warn you, shop with caution when you find these goodies.

Don't even try to tell me your closet couldn't use a little something special and fresh this winter. These diffusers are just the trick! And what pitch-perfect packaging!!

Anyone wanna' come over and snuggle up with me?!

xo Lizzy

Trick or Treat

Who sends Halloween cards? No clue. Who should you send them to? Don't ask me. But how can you resist these? You can't. This is the best selection of Halloween cards we've ever had, which is really saying something since this is now our 3rd year celebrating this creepy, but fun holiday. For real though, you should totally pick up a couple and drop 'em in your kiddos' lunch boxes (Halloween does fall on a manic Monday) or send one to your college bestie who (or is it whom?) you've been meaning to write. She'll love this one: 

{Mr. Boddington's Studio}

And the kids will get a kick out of this:

 

 {Egg Press}

And this one is too cute to pass up (how fun would it be if you got 5 kids to dress in these exact costumes, took a photo and then framed it next to this card? The answer is ridiculously fun):

 {Rifle Paper Co.}

{Mr. Boddington's Studio} 

For you love birds:

{Mr. Boddington's Studio} 

 {Two Trick Pony} 

{Dee and Lala} 

 

 

No pressure or anything but these cards are going quick and once we sell out, we're out. But fear not, our Turkey Day cards are just as cute. And don't even get me started on Christmas.

Inspiration: 2012 fashion shows

(Photos above found via The Sartorialist)

I wouldn't consider myself to be a devoted follower of couture fashion (who has the time?!?), but I sure do love a good fashion fix every now and again. So, when I stumbled across these incredible 2012 shows on the blog of our pal & super talented calligrapher, Mara, of Neither Snow, I just had to share them. Talk about inspiration!!

I am swooning over the clothes, but really what I'm gaga for is the show /set design of both shows. I LOVE the all white under-the-sea stage for Chanel and the carousel concept for Louis Vuitton. Both are just genius!! It's amazing how inspiration can come from just about anything.

A few snaps from the LV show:



(1st 2 photos above found via The Sartorialist, 3rd photo found via Fashionising)

To really get a sense for how it all unfolded, check out the videos of both shows:

HERE


and

HERE



And definitely peek at the Sartorialist post about the LV show. It's amazing eye candy. Enjoy, you fashionistas, you!

Fall Hours at the shop

Oh Sydney...

To say that I have been busy inventorying and merchandising lately would be a gross understatement. In the past two weeks I have unpacked and swooned over the sweetest gifties and greeting cards! From party design & home decor books to perpetual agendas, calendars, and the most beautiful candles!! We've been working really hard lately to focus our attention when it comes to purchasing - and I've been brainstorming on how to revamp the shop a bit in terms of fixtures. The fact of the matter is that the three of us LOVE LOVE LOVE the vendors and products here at G&R, and really want to be sure that our presentation is clear and concise, but that the shop also makes you smile and inspires you :)

With the warmer weather today, I'm feeling a bit thrown though. I was totally ready to start spreading some gift-giving-cheery-40*F evening-loveliness with you today (as holiday gift wrap officially went out on the ladders yesterday!!)... but instead I'm burning a Grapefruit and Orange candle from Sydney Hale Company These candles are 100% hand-poured soy, are made right in the lovely state of Virginia, and I love them, I love them, I do...

And I'm thinking about planting little herbs in our Chewing the Cud fabric buckets...I just can't help myself...

Fall weather... will you please come back? So I can re-focus on seasonally appropriate sweets and treats?! A pail of basil most certainly would not last long this time of year in New Hampshire....

Happy Weekend Folks - enjoy the warmth while it lasts!

xo Lizzy

Linda & Harriet 2012 Letterpress Calendar

As you know our 2012 calendars have been rolling in and just last week we received our shipment of Linda & Harriet letterpress calendars. We've carried this calendar every year and it is always my personal favorite. This year is no different!

Liz Libré, the artist behind Linda & Harriet, creates a pattern of hand-drawn illustrations that fill the bottom of each month's page. The drawings are always related to the specific month so that you have snowmen to look at in December and whales to admire in July.

The best part about the calendar is that on the back of each month's page there is a layout of a postcard so that when the month is over (or if you're like us it will be when the year is over since we display all 12 months at once for a huge, life-size wall calendar) you can cut off the bottom of the page where the pattern of illustrations are located and send a dear friend or secret crush an adorable postcard. How clever is that?

Can you guess which month is Sam's favorite? She's pretty stoked that not only does the 2012 calendar feature horse shoes, they just happen to be March's featured illustration, which is Sam's birthday month (March 7 in case you want to send cupcakes).

I love the pattern for October. Halloween is just a few short weeks away:)

photos courtesy of Linda & Harriet