Kay X.
Yelp
How sweet, my 200th reviews. So to stay in that bliss, might as well write about something truly sweet and blissful.
Vanille Patisserie is becoming a Chicago institution. Their quality and work are very impressive along with the stunning presentation then you guessed it, taste taste taste. How cute that an authentic French pastry shop is located inside the Chicago French Market. Their stall is in the very back towards the left. Yet when there is a high peak event (like Valentine's day) they have a temporary station right at the front door for easy access.
My dessert appreciation is high, high and Vanille has a wide variety of items from luscious tarts, mousse cakes, handmade chocolates, and the ever-popular french macaron. I went with the macarons - the cost of one is $2.25, and a set of 6 comes in at $14.95. My selections: two of the seasonal and highly sought after strawberry champagne, one hazelnut, one Nutella, one pistachio, and one mango. For U.S made macarons, these are perfection in terms of texture, balance, and sweetness. The outer shells were smooth and crisp, and the inside fillings were delectable.
I've never been huge on macarons, they were always just OK. But I think they were just OK because I hadn't had these. These are hands-down the best macaroons I've had in the US. Many other stores buy in bulk from a pastry house in New York and then they just sit. Vanille macarons are fresh and therefore, moist and delicious on the inside and I was actually able to taste the flavor profile.
There are four locations in the city (three north and one south). If you have an opportunity to visit Vanille, try an assortment of their wonderful treats and try a few flavors that you normally wouldn't try. I'm sorry, but when you visit, you will have some tough decisions.