Parisian Cuisine: Experience French Culture with Great Food

Did you know that Paris is the number one tourist destination in the world? People come to the City of Lights for its history, art, nightlife, fashion and shopping. And no trip to Paris would be complete without experiencing incredible French cuisine. I am a frequent visitor to Paris, but I'm no expert when it comes to recommending four-star restaurants.

As a high school French teacher, my cultural experiences abroad usually include a bus full of teenagers who must be steered away from a daily menu of McDonald's. I like to create a learning experience in which my students go on a sort of shopping scavenger hunt to create a French picnic.

Any traveler to Paris, no matter how wealthy or sophisticated, is sure to enjoy this authentic and fun cultural experience. So, skip the lunch reservations for a day, make a list, and divvy up the shopping. Let's revisit French 101: Markets.

Boulangerie - Bakery

A meal is just not French if you forget the baguette. Parisians buy this long, thin bread daily from one of the many boulangeries dotting the City of Light. No matter how hard I try, I just cannot find an American version of baguette which is quite as crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. Delicieux! The French take their bread seriously.

In fact, there is recent legislation that requires bread to be made entirely by hand and from scratch at the premises in order for a bakery to call itself a "boulangerie." Before departing for your trip, anticipate the glories of French bread by watching it being made via webcam in a Parisian bakery (http://www.bonneau.fr/Webcam.htm) Baguette is inexpensive, usually under 1 euro, so pick up a few loaves.

Charcuterie - Deli

Try some prepared meats, such as ham, sausage, or pate. You'll need the energy only protein can provide for a busy day of sightseeing.

Fromagerie - Cheese shop