This could be a really short post: Eat anything anywhere you want. You cannot starve in Paris.

Paris is famous for food at every level of production, from the absolutely finest (and expensive) cuisine in a grand dining room with more tuxedo-clad wait-staff than diners, to the tiny, casual sidewalk cafés. Ah, the wine! Ah, the pastries! Ah, the sauces! Ah, the surly French waiters! A word about the sauces. The French, not being rich, ate all cuts of meat, even the poor ones. They learned to improve them with sauces, and that was the origin of French cooking. Or so I’m told.

Traditional pastries aren't as garish as what you will find in the US. Click to enlarge

Speaking of Bistros, on the last day of his life the famous French Philosopher, Renée Descartes was seated at a sidewalk café when the waiter asked if he would like some more wine. He said “I think not,” and he disappeared.

(If you don’t get it, write me and I’ll explain it.) Paris has so many good places to eat, I hesitate to mention any lest I slight another of equal esteem. I did hunt around all over, without success, for a bistro named Ratatouille.