PIERRE HERMé

Hermé is quite simply the king of Parisian pastry chefs, or pâtissiers, as can be seen by the queues to buy his now-famous macaroons at the tiny “flagship” boutique on rue Bonaparte on the Left Bank. Parisians just adore macaroons, a delicacy dating back to the 18th century made of egg whites, almonds and sugar, which has helped make Hermé a household name in the city.The man himself can often be found at his second store on rue Vaugirard. Insider tip: if you want to sample his macaroons but can’t face the queue, try the store on rue Cambon, across from the Tuileries gardens – it’s much quieter and the staff are charming.