A look at a cafe in France by Fiona Cullinan

1. Crêpes

Crêpes are rather like pancakes, except they have the thickness of a piece of paper, and are filled with savoury or sweet ingredients, depending on your preference. In France, you’ll find a variety of vendors selling crepes, especially around the Montparnasse station in Paris. The savvy readers will already know that it is best to buy those which are made from scratch in front of you, rather than tempt the disappointment of biting into a mediocre pre-made one.

2. Merguez Frites sandwich

The simplistic, yet flavorful merguez frites is a delight not to be missed while wandering the streets of Paris. Simply put, it’s a baguette that’s hollowed out and filled with a mixture of spicy merguez sausage, french-fries, and a sauces such as mustard, mayonnaise, and tomato sauce. Grab one from any of the vendors who’ve set up a stand in Northern Paris.

3. Jambon-beurre

The name jambon-beurre is a nice way to dress-up the humble buttered ham baguette. Though don’t be fooled by its simplistic ingredients, as this side-street treat is incredibly popular. You can find a variety of bistros and street stands that sell it, and it is recommended that you try one made at the Le Petit Vendôme bistro.

4. Falafel

Though this is strictly not a French food, falafels have become very popular with the French in recent years. What is it, you wonder? It is a deep fried paste made of either chickpeas or fava beans rolled into a ball, which are then stuffed into fresh pita bread, and topped with salad, hummus, and sauce. One of the best places to order from is Mi Va Mi in the Marais district.

A perfect falafel pita roll by Lara604

5. Man’Ouche

When you’re in the mood for a pizza, the man’ouche will fulfill your need. It is made from flattened and rounded dough, which is baked and topped with a soft cheese and olive-oil mixture, along with some sesame seeds and thyme. It’s similar to a focaccia pizza, minus the garlic, and is a traditional Lebanese dish. The restaurant Man’ouChe in the Beaubourg district, next to the George Pompidou centre, serves this as well as a variety of other Lebanese foods, and they’re all available for take-away.

6. Croque-monsieur

If you enjoy jabon-beurre in summer, then your winter friend will definitely be the croquet-monsieur – literally translated to crunchy mister. This grilled ham and Swiss cheese sandwich is given infinite more life by being smothered in a rich béchamel sauce. The best one in town is rumored to be available at Le Petit Cler, on rue Cler in the 7th Arrondissement.

7. Macaroons

Considered to be one of the main desserts in France, macaroons come in a variety of colors and flavors. They’re small creations that have a creamy ganache middle framed by two harder halves, and common flavors include chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, and coffee. The most raved about macaroons come from a little shop called Pierre Hermé, at 72, rue Bonaparte.

A variety of macaroons by Carrie-Jean Walker

Author Bio: Roseanna McBain is a write for TravelGround, a South African accommodation and booking website. She enjoys reading up on cultures around the world, and attempting to make cuisine from around the globe.

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Jambon-Beurre Sandwiches

This is hailed as the French national sandwich. Who would not fall in love with the taste of this crackly-crusted baguette stuffed with salty ham and spread with the tastiest cream butter? You can buy this in most bakeries and café and is enjoyed with a cup of espresso or cappuccino. Nevertheless, most locales will recommend Creperie du Comptoir as the best place where you can find the tastiest jambon-beurre sandwiches. For a price of only 3.27 Euros, this treat will keep your tummy wanting for more without killing your pocket.

Merguez-frite Sandwich

People who are looking for tasty halal food with a spicy twist in its flavor will adore the merguez-frite sandwich. It is a crusty baguette bread, which is stuffed with French fries combined with chilli-spiked lamb sausage commonly supplied by Tunisia and Algeria. Use harissa sauce to spice up your palate, or choose the less spicy Dijon mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise spread. If you plan to visit the Eiffel Tower, then just go to North Paris and you will surely find stalls that will give you a taste of these spicy street food or go see the impressive universities in Paris because it will

Merguez-frite Sandwich / louis bennett

Crepe

This thin liquid batter cooked over hot frying pan comes in different variations. I enjoy the sweet taste of this food on my mouth, especially while it is hot. Although some stalls will offer the savory flavor, I still love mine with its sweet tangy taste. It costs for less than 2 Euros for the plain sugar option, which makes it a good cheap food you are bound to enjoy in Paris. However, make sure you fall in line with stalls making fresh crepes and not pre-made crepes because you will only be disappointed.

Falafel

The best falafel in France is sold at Marais. It is one of the must-eat tourist destinations here in France because of its affordable yet delicious foods. Indulge your taste bud with light and crispy chickpea fritters that is topped with perfectly roasted vegetables and salsa-like tomato condiment. It is one food experience you would never forget, and one of the tastiest French foods you would definitely come back for in your next visit.

Anyone who wishes to enjoy the beauty of France should also appreciate the delicious cuisines it offers. These street foods unparallel the elegance and class offered by fancy restaurants scattered in the area, but for anyone who wishes to have a taste of the culture of France then it is best to go and sit where most of the locales would enjoy dining.

About the Author:
The article has been provided by Shaiya Ong from http://www.frenchairportguide.com/, a helpful guide for travelers who wishes to have the best rates for their car hire at French airports.

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Belgium is interesting with the diversity of its population. The country is divided into 3 areas, Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. In the northern part of Flanders, live Flemish, who speak Flemish (Belgian Flemish is a variant of Dutch). In the southern part, Wallonia, live Walloons, who speak French. In the region of Brussels there are Flemish and French speaking residents but also many foreigners. The third official language alongside French and Flemish in Belgium, is German.

Flemish are closer to the Dutch and Walloons to the French, both with the mentality and temperament, and way of life. Between Flemish and Walloons, there is a certain degree of jealousy and they are sometimes even talking about the possibility of division of land into two states.

Brussels – the capital of the EU
The capital of Belgium – Brussels is also sometimes called the capital of the European Union. Brussels houses the Council of Ministers and the European Commission, but also the European Parliament.

Brussels is bilingual, but if you go through the streets, you can hear a lot more languages ​​than just French or Flemish. A large number of foreigners live here, many of which are currently working in the institutions of the European Union. Brussels is a truly cosmopolitan city that offers many tourist sights and attractions such as: the Grand Place with historic houses and town hall, the famous Atomium and Mini-Europe – an entertainment center with models of buildings from different cities of the European Union.

Not least among the advantages of Belgium are their specialties and typical dishes and drinks. A very popular is fish in many ways, mussels, cheese or french fries with mayonnaise. From the candies you should try waffles and of course the world famous Belgian chocolates.

The most popular drink is beer. The best-known brands include Leffe, Chimey, Duvel, Jupiler, Maes, Hoegaarden and Stella Artois. They also have flavoured beers, such as cherry, strawberry or currant.

View Belgium – head of European Union in a larger map

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