Godiva, the chocolatier, launched a "baked desserts" line in November, including brownies and chocolate-coconut macaroons.

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Sometimes, he even makes macaroons that sound actively disgusting: ketchup, or foie gras and chocolate.

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And a dessert of macaroons and field berries uses an apple mistelle (a fortified wine) from local cider producer Pedneault.

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These immaculate shrines to consumption contain all manner of raw and prepared foods, ranging from fresh baby sardines on ice to delicately scented lavender-and-vanilla macaroons.

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At fromagerie Androuet cheeses can be vacuum-packed to take home, while luscious macaroons in flavours such as raspberry and blackcurrant can be found at Mococha light, alongside divine chocolates.

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When a new batch of three is ready, Sirio serves tastings, pairing each mini shot with a tiny bite of dessert (coconut macaroons, miniature chocolate brownies and meringue dollops with fresh raspberries).

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Keen to smooth tensions over the euro zone crisis when Hollande and Merkel met this month to mark 50 years of Franco-German reconciliation, French chefs chose to reproduce the famous meal of filet of beef and raspberry macaroons prepared in 1962 for post-war leaders Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer when they signed their friendship treaty.

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