Paris

Paris, France’s much-loved capital city, is a melting pot of all the different foods of France. If you want fruits de mer, visit one of the écailleurs on the city’s streets, who will shuck and present you with a fresh and vast array of seafood on a large metal plate filled with crushed ice. Underneath will lie a small plate with shallot vinegar, Tabasco sauce, bread and good butter. Nowhere else does this taste as good to me; it is my staple diet every time I visit the city. There are also places serving sauerkraut from the Alsace region, or a rich and bubbling cassoulet or crispy confit de canard from the south-west. Anything is possible in Paris, as with most major cities nowadays, but it is still necessary to seek out good food. This can take a little skill as there are many tourists, so you should always do some research on the internet, check out the great many recommendations and also travel with a good guide — The Michelin Guide is a superb all-rounder.