(This story is sponsored by Ladurée.)

Since opening its doors in 2016, Ladurée in Vancouver has been offering its world famous macarons in a variety of flavours, as well as chocolates, teas, accessories, and exquisite service at its tea salons. Now, for the first time in Canada, the highly anticipated full range of Ladurée cakes and pastries will be launched in Vancouver.

Ladurée has been a passionate purveyor of pastries and cakes since it was founded in Paris in 1862. And surely there is no one else in the world who understands the creativity that goes into patisserie than the French.

Connoisseurs can now experience the Ladurée signature, Ispahan—an elevated rose macaron, filled with rose-petal cream and lychees and decorated with fresh raspberries. Or perhaps you’d prefer to indulge in the pastry perfection that is the Rose Raspberry Saint Honoré, the Pistachio Religieuse, or the Plaisir Sucré. There will also be the entire selection of Viennoiseries such as croissants, pains au chocolat, brioches, palmiers, and more.

But behind every Ladurée dessert are years of tradition and a Ladurée executive chef, who uses precise techniques to lead the entire process. And Vancouver is delighted to welcome a Ladurée international pastry expert, Chef Mickaël de Monte, who has moved here from Paris, especially to share his mastery and ensure that every cake meets Ladurée’s exacting standards.

Chef Mickaël will work his magic from a purpose-built pastry laboratory where science combines with creativity to bring you the exquisite taste and quality exactly as you would enjoy à Paris. And with more than 15 years of experience, five of which he has spent with Ladurée, he is the quintessential pastry chef.

While every recipe must be approved by the Paris headquarters, Olesya Krakhmalyova, owner of Ladurée Canada, hints that Chef Mickaël may create an exclusive dessert especially for Canadians.

In the meantime, the chef has spent the past month sourcing the very best ingredients so that visitors to Ladurée can get a taste of France, without having to leave Vancouver.

Cakes! Pastries! Ice creams! Teas! And as always, the macarons—the hand-crafted little biscuits with smooth ganache or jam fillings that have now become synonymous with Ladurée. And while the macaron continues to delight all those who try it, visitors are treated to something extra special with the new launch of cakes and pastries.

In Vancouver, you can enjoy this sweet little morceau of Paris at one of the two Ladurée locations (Robson Street and Holt Renfrew), where every effort has been made to ensure a truly authentic French experience.

It’s only apt then, that the luxury tea salon’s creations are treated with the respect of jewels—presented atop a tiered cake stand or wrapped in turquoise- and gold-embossed boxes. A petit cadeau from France and the Ladurée chef who created them.

Enter below to win a Ladurée afternoon tea for two people valued at $50 per person (total $100), which features macarons, individual cakes, and mini Viennese pastries complemented with savoury finger sandwiches, refreshing fruit salad and, of course, Ladurée’s own tea.

Visit Ladurée Robson at 1141 Robson Street (604-336-3030), or Ladurée Holt Renfrew at 737 Dunsmuir Street (604-681-3121).