The Perfect Gift for Parisian Dinner Party?

Last week,  I escaped the "New Economy" in New York and fled to Paris for a few weeks.  I arrived at my hotel at noon to find that I was invited to a dinner party at the home of a couple I barely knew.   My hosts were receiving at 8 that evening, and I had no idea how many guests would be attending.  What to take as my hostess gift?  Wine is too expected, and in France, can be really tricky.  And, I thought I remembered that the hostess didn't drink alcohol.

And then it hit me walking down the Champs Elysee!  Macaroons from Laduree!  I chose 32 multi-colored macaroons from the store's flagship location.  Flavors including mango, pistachio, dark chocolate, orange blossom, lemon and mocha.  Each cost approximately 1 Euro. The packaging for the macaroons was a treat in of itself....a peppermint green box with a pink ribbon.

www.laduree.com

Sixteen people came to dinner that night.  The treats were a huge success served with coffee after dinner!