It's all about the French writer Marcel Proust and his famous epic "In Search of Lost Time". Also, this dessert has its roots in Poland. Once the Polish king Stanislav Leszczynski had a disaster — the cook suddenly fell ill, and the guests at the ball risked being left without sweets. Leshchinsky was rescued by his maid named Madeleine Polmier. She remembered the shell cookie recipe her grandmother used to bake and quickly made it. All the guests were delighted with the perfect madeleines!