Louis-Ernest Ladurée, a French artist of versatile interests ranging from writing to pastry-crafting, invented the original macaron but unfortunately had his original shop burnt down during the Paris Commune of 1871. In the 1930′s, his second grandson Pierre Desfontaines rose to fame by sticking two macaron pastries together with a flavored ganâche and creating the modern double-decker macaron as we know it!

His gastronomical success was complemented by the genius idea of turning part of his shop into a tearoom. At a time when women were not allowed into cafés and had to keep to the seclusion of their homes, the Laduree tearooms became the bourgeois ladies' new gourmand social venue.

Today, TheHourGlass officially opens the doors to the first Ladurée boutique in South East Asia, at Ngee Ann City in Singapore's famed Orchard Road. Singapore will have its own unique macaron box design, perfect as a distinctive souvenir for travelers to bring these sweet delights home in.

Ladurée has two stores in Takashimaya Shopping Centre: a counter on Level 1 that sells only the famed macarons (between french luxury houses, Chanel and Louis Vuitton), and another, a boutique that retails the other collectibles such as home scents, candles, jams, teas and tote bags, aside from the macarons.

In 2012, Ladurée celebrated its 150th anniversary.