Delano’s sister publication Paperjam , and now it’s a reality: the Pierre Hermé boutique has opened in the pedestrianised Rue Aldringen in Luxembourg’s Ville-Haute.
The shop offers a wide selection of macarons--the flagship speciality--as well as a few chocolates, in praline or bar form, tubs of ice cream, a few cakes, jams and teas.
Pierre Hermé Paris was founded in 1997 by Pierre Hermé and Charles Znaty. “With Charles Znaty, our aim was not to open a patisserie, but to create a luxury brand. So we invented the term ‘haute pâtisserie,’” explains Hermé.
In 2016, Pierre Hermé was voted best pâtissier in the world by the Academy of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Photo: Patrick Rougereau
As well as having products made with quality raw materials, the Pierre Hermé experience extends to carefully crafted boutiques, meticulously considered packaging and attentive service. “Haute pâtisserie is a set of attentions that is not limited to the product alone. We create a genuine ritual of service to offer an incomparable experience to gourmets the world over,” explains Znaty, president of the company.
The speciality: macarons
Macarons have pride of place in the Luxembourg shop. As it happens, these little sweets have a Luxembourg origin, since in the 1950s, at the Confiserie Sprüngli in Zurich, Luxembourger Camille Studer invented the macaron as we know it today, calling it the “Luxemburgeli.” Hermé likes to recall the origins of this speciality, which has made him famous the world over.
In the long counter at the heart of the shop, customers can discover the Infiniment collection, with its emphasis on unique flavours (caramel, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, coffee…); the Signature collection, with more surprising and original flavour combinations (Ispahan, with rose, lychee and raspberry, or Ella, lemon and raspberry, for example); or the Jardins collection, with surprising flavours (Jardin en Sicile, with orange and basil flower, or Jardin japonais, with morello cherry, lemon and tonka bean).
There’s also a selection of chocolates, sold as pralines on the counter or as bars on the shelves. An ice cream fridge is sure to be a big hit this summer. And for snacks, you can stock up on jams and teas.
The shop in Luxembourg is the first in the Benelux region, but is part of a vast network of 90 outlets around the world. The Luxembourg franchise is run by Mattéo Cambou and employs seven people. The interior was designed by interior architect Laura Gonzalez.
Pierre Hermé Paris - 6, rue Aldringen, Luxembourg, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
This article was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.