By Veronica Espinoza

LeilaLove
510 Higgins Road in Park Ridge
LeilaLove.com

Close proximity: I have always been a fan of macarons. A sweet, delicate little French cookie of blissfulness. But I usually have them only once in a while because I would have to go all the way to Evanston to get my hands on some. Not the case anymore.

At first glance: During my first visit to the patisserie, I found myself surprised by a beautiful bright-pink house decorated with flowers, hanging baskets of plants and a window overlooking the colorful macarons. Inside, I found an array of macarons, each separated by flavor and style and encased in glass covers.

With the French decorations and music playing in the background, you almost feel transported to Paris. I was greeted by the owner’s husband, who suggested which popular flavors to try.

Decadent treats: To say the macarons are delicious is an understatement; I felt like I was eating fresh raspberries. LeliaLove makes everything from scratch on a daily basis — using fresh ingredients and with no preservatives — and the patisserie also serves a variety of other desserts like cakes, tarts, etc.

Catering and shipping: With new items introduced constantly, it’s a great place to treat yourself if you have a sweet tooth like me. The macaron creations are perfect for gifting or catering as well, with hand-crafted packaging and shipping available nationwide.