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The French food is famous all over the world and has a rich history of fine cuisine that is taken very seriously, with Paris restaurants serving some of the finest food in the world.
Also, with thousands of different Paris restaurants like well known bistros to cafes or top table restaurants serving haute cuisine, you will not be disappointed with the quality of food, no matter how big or small your budget is.
But, choosing a restaurant in Paris can literally give you a real headache, as you will be spoilt for choice, then on the other hand it’s the kind of problem that is nice to deal with, as there is something to suit everyone’s palate, so why not try something a little different, like Japanese food in France, or you could opt for numerous other International varieties of cuisine from Mexican, American, Turkish, Italian, Brazilian like the very popular Brasil Tropical that also has a cabaret show, Spanish, Indian, and many more to excite those taste buds.
Now, of course the finest way of eating in Paris is at a top table restaurant that serves haute cuisine, but I would say that you will need a healthy bank balance for this, as this type of meal has elaborate preparations and presentations, which is reflected within the price, with many costing over 200 or 500 euros per person.
But do not worry too much, most Paris restaurants have a Menu du Jour, that normally means you can order a reasonably priced meal from a set menu, with the food prepared from the freshest produce that is available locally.
However, if you are looking at having breakfast out is more than likely to be at a Patisserie or cafes in Paris, where you can get croissants, bread, numerous varieties of cheese and cold meats, plus pastries that are usually accompanied by a cup of strong black coffee, but if you prefer white coffee, then just ask for cafe au lait.
Also, one quick point, whilst you are experiencing this fabulous city of Paris and its food, you will come across numerous different cafes and bistros in Paris that have indoor and outdoor dining, but if you do decide to eat outside on the terrace, there is often an additional charge added to your bill.
Do also please remember that most of the shops in France close for at least two hours at lunch time, which is when most of the French have their main meal, and today there are now lots of restaurants providing a Brunch type service, so it is a great time to re-fuel before continuing your sightseeing of the Paris landmarks.
But if you do need to have a snack in the afternoon prior to an evening meal, the best option is to go to a Brasserie as they are usually open all day and serve the same food, whatever the time.
Another great passion in France is having a glass of French wine, especially with a meal, in fact it is like a French tradition and is almost expected in most restaurants, and when you are served a normal table wine in France do not think that this is a cheap and hopefully cheerful option, as most of the table wines served are very good quality, but you if you wanted you can often purchase a more reasonably priced wine or even one of the a more expensive wines available.
But thinking about this, normally the wine is paired with your meal, so when dining at a good quality restaurant, it is customary to order a different wine to accompany each different dish served, to enhance the cuisine and not take away from any of its exquisite tastes.
With so many different Paris restaurants, which one is for you? You could try something a little different like the Musee du Vin, which is a wine museum, so you can learn about wine making and its history, plus of course do some wine tasting at the same time, then you can even enjoy a fabulous meal along with the wine.
Still not sure about where to go for your next evening eating out in Paris, then why not pick up the free restaurant guide called Le Carnet Gourmand, which lists around 200 restaurants in Paris, who are registered with the Tourism office,
One last point we would like to make, the Parisians tend to dress up for an evening meal and many restaurants require a jacket or even dinner attire, so do always check what the dress code is when booking, or you may be refused entry!
About the Author:
Martyn Davis European Traveller, Author, Photographer and Business Development Manager, For all your French holiday needs and travel guide to France, with tourist information, landmarks and attractions - http://www.placesinfrance.com/eating_in_pa ris_restaurants.html
Paris has always been at the forefront of the world in terms of entertainment and variety from film, dance, opera, jazz, ballet, rock festivals and not forgetting the romance.
Also, with the romance that Paris perceives, it is the number one destination for UK tourists and with over 30 million travellers per year from around the world, it is no wonder that this city has so much to offer.
Paris entertainment has always been at the forefront of the world in terms of quality and variety and from film, dance, opera, jazz, concerts, ballet, rock festivals and cabaret, there is always some form of entertainment on offer to suit all tastes, no matter what the time of year you decide to visit this vibrant and cultural city in France.
There are two opera houses in Paris - the Opera Bastille and the Palais Garnier that hosts the Opera National de aris. There are also many different rock venues in Paris that play host to a large number of international performers and Paris is also popular for its many dance clubs, nightclubs, and cabaret shows such as the Moulin Rouge, which has become famous throughout the world for its can-can, plus a multitude of different festivals that are held in Paris every year.
Of course, there are the usual monuments and attractions which we all go an see when visiting Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral, walking along the Avenue de Champs-Elysees with all its glitz and glamour and visiting the Bastille Square.
There are also some more recent landmarks that attract millions of visitors each year to Paris, such as La Grande Arche in the business district of La Defense or The Center Nationale d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, also known simply as the Beaubourg or the Pompidou Centre.
Another attraction are the Catacombs of Paris, which are a famous burial place with its network of subterranean tunnels and rooms located underneath Paris and you can go on an official tour through the old quarries.
And the banks of the River Seine in Paris will offer visitors an unforgettable experience by being able to get to see the sights from a completely different perspective, while cruising in a boat and perhaps sampling the French cuisine at the same time.
However, for those of us who would like to get away from it all, the Ile de France region of which Paris is at the centre becomes an ideal place, offering a multitude of nature, history, art and culture, but all within only a short distance from the periphery.
So, within the Ile de France region, you be able to discover more than 500km of navigable waterways, as well as many more kilometres of footpaths and historic sites along its beautiful rivers and canals.
But not far from Paris in the Ile de France region you will discover rich picturesque countryside and forests all within a short distance of the periphery and it boasts three National Parks and four National Forests that allow you to get away from it all and enjoy the natural beauty of France along with the slow pace of French country life.
With stunning scenery, idyllic towns, peace and tranquillity, along with the abundant wildlife that await its visitors, it is the perfect setting for a drive in the country, an invigorating walk or a typical French picnic lunch in the open air.
And although Paris still tends to have that allure as a destination for lovers, there is also an enormous amount to do for children of all ages and the adults alike! Disneyland Paris with all of its magic is obviously one of those destinations, along with Parc Asterix, but there are also some great modern museums that provide interaction, making learning fun.
And from interesting, historic towns, to the centre of Paris, back to the forests and national parks, to amusements or glitz and glamour, Paris has something for everyone to enjoy, but make sure that you allocate enough time to experience this incredible region of France.
About the Author:
Martyn Davis European Traveller, Author, Photographer and Business Development Manager, For all your French holiday needs and travel guide to France, with tourist information, landmarks and attractions - http://www.placesinfrance.com/paris_capital_city.html
Wine is undoubtedly one of the great national treasures of France, which over the years has become an integral part of French culture and is rooted in history with around half a million vineyards.
Although you can find many great value wines and numerous different varieties to choose from whatever your palette, there are also some of the most expensive wines in the world that are produced in France, and the vast majority of people will never be able to experience in their lifetime.
In fact, a vintage Romanee Conti red wine produced from the pinot noir grape in Burgundy can cost anything upwards of 1,000 for just one bottle. And a rare vintage case of 12 sold at auction in London for a staggering 58,500 making this the most expensive case of wine sold at auction up until the year 2007.
Both Bordeaux and Burgundy have always contested that they produce the best wines and in their own ways the are probably both correct, and yet apart from the Champagne region, famous for the sparkling wine of the same name, Bordeaux wines are far more widely known than those from Burgundy.
No matter what region in France you go on holiday to, you will be able to sample a wide variety of different wines and it is a good idea to get to know your preferences before trying different ones. Whether you prefer a red wine or a white wine, sweet or dry, still or sparkling the choice is immense.
Going to a wine tasting session can be great fun trying out different varieties, yet for some it can also be a little daunting, especially if it is not on an arranged tour of which there are plenty to choose from. However, there are some general pointers that will get you through.
When wine tasting, you should always start off with the lightest wines such as sparkling wines and work through to full bodied whites, then through the reds from the light to the full bodied and end on dessert wines. This will help to keep your taste buds more sensitive so you can better appreciate each wine and in some places they even supply water in between so as to get the full flavour and texture of each wine you are tasting.
You should swill the wine round in the glass a couple of times, which will help aerate it and provide you with the full aroma. Plus it is customary to spit out most wine, rather than swallow it, although you can swallow a small amount on occasions to experience what it is like after it has gone down.
The Loire Valley is a massive wine producing region that produces a variety of wine such as Muscadet, Cabernet Franc, Gamay reds and even reasonably priced Sauvignon Blancs. And with the beautiful chateaux plus the tranquil winding river it makes the Loire region one of the most visited areas in France for experiencing wines and fine French food to accompany them with the stunning backdrops so synonymous with this region.
Yet for hundreds of years Bordeaux has had a long and internationally famous history of high quality wines and is also a very popular place to go, although you can still pick up a good value Bordeaux wine if you travel to the outskirts of the region.
And yes, who could not think about champagne, which is so tightly controlled for what can be classed as a true champagne, you will get to appreciate why some varieties are so expensive and are only produced in this region for consumption throughout the world. However, there are some vineyards that will charge far less for a bottle of their champagne with the same finesse, compared to that of the famous brands we have all come to know.
The Languedoc region in France is one of the biggest wine producing regions and to put this into perspective, it has over two times more land planted to vines than the whole of Australia! Even though in the past, they concentrated more on quantity rather than quality, this is changing where you can pick up a reasonably priced wine that can match up to some at double or even triple the cost.
But France is a country that has such a different range of wines from the many wine regions and each one will provide a taste, aroma and body like no other and some regions themselves offer such a diverse range it can be quite mind boggling, yet a fascinating experience.
Obviously, white wine has long been associated with fish and chicken, whereas red wine is normally paired with red meats and game. Yet when you are in France experiencing the fantastic culinary delights of the regions speciality French food, take the time to choose a wine that will enhance the experience or ask for advice and enjoy.
About the Author:
Martyn Davis European Traveller, Author, Photographer and Business Development Manager, For all your French holiday needs and travel guide to France, with tourist information, landmarks and attractions
