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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Here are five of the weirdest travel tips, and whether you should take heed of them on your next trip.

1. Leave your car unlocked.

Most of us would consider this completely mad advice, but there’s actually quite a bit of evidence to show this titbit has solid standing. Most car repairs in holiday destinations are actually the replacement of smashed windows. Leaving your car empty of anything you deem valuable and unlocked at night means thieves can clearly see that you have nothing worth stealing in your car – without breaking in.

Photo by Tim Lucas

2. Wear a fake wedding ring.

Women travellers are frequently given this advice when heading to countries where they could be targeted by unwanted suitors. Although some aren’t happy with lying, there’s no doubt that a fake wedding band will help avoid or get out of difficult situations.

3. Take allergy medication on the plane with you.

If you’re allergic to cats, you might be used to taking your medication when visiting a friend with the little furballs, but why would you need it on a plane? Even if your flight isn’t one transporting animals in its hold, cat owners will most likely be carrying some hair from their pets on their clothes. Take into account the recycled air in the cabin, and you’ll be glad your meds aren’t in your checked-in bag when you’re half way to your luxury chalets in Verbier.

Photo by kelly

4. Don’t eat street food.

Although hygiene standards where you’re travelling may not be the same as home, and food poisoning is a risk, don’t let this stop you enjoying the culinary delights. Street foods in many places are some of the most delicious and cheap dishes you can buy. Just use your common sense – if the stand looks like it hasn’t ever been cleaned, or the vendor looks ill, move on to the next one.

5. No PDA.

In certain countries, in particular the UAE, it’s not only illegal to have relations in public, but also to hug, hold hands and kiss. Any advice like this should not be taken lightly – there have been many tourists thrown in jail for these kinds of offences, so make sure you save it for the bedroom.

Photo by Marco

What’s the strangest piece of travel advice you’ve been given? Did you act on it? Let us know in the comments!

Gavin Harvey is a fitness fanatic and avid traveller who has been given some very odd advice in the past. He currently writes for Dynamic Lives with travel advice.

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Hit the markets

Nothing captures the buzz and character of London more than its bustling markets. Colourful, cultural and packed full of bargains galore, whether you’re looking to uncover chic gems in the vintage clothes stalls of Camden, sample the sights, smells and tastes of Whitecross Street Food Market or hunt for treasure in Brixton, there are plenty of unique and tempting markets all across London which are at their best during the week, away from the tourist-trapping weekend trade.

London Eye and Panorama, England, UK by Elliott Brown

Soak up the views

Whether you’re a hard-nosed Londoner who knows the Tube map like the back of your hand, or an innocent tourist clutching your guidebook, the chances are you’re often in too much of a rush to really soak up the unique beauty of this city. A day off is a fantastic chance to take a step back and just drink it all in. The London Eye may be one of London’s most recognisable icons but it is also one of the best ways to get a great view of the famous buildings, landmarks and skyline that lie all around you.

Explore the quirky side of life

As well as its glitzy tourist attractions and mainstream entertainment, London really excels itself when it comes to underground culture and off-beat antics and there are plenty of ways to explore this side of the city – you just have to know who to ask. The Alternative London Tour will show you some of the best street art and unique cultural history of East London, while Ghost and Murder Walks can help you uncover the darker sides of London’s spooky underbelly.

London Fields, Hackney, Egland, UK by Charles Hutchins

Hit the park

A day off means relaxing and getting away from the daily grind. Luckily, London is blessed with plenty of green spaces which means you don’t need to travel far to be able to chill out on the grass or enjoy a rejuvenating wildlife walk. If you’re planning what to do with your bank holiday, then a barbecue is often the first thing that springs to mind, but for many Londoners access to a garden comes at a price. But fear not, if sparking up the barbie in your front room fills you with fear, then you can always head off to Highbury Fields in Islington or London Fields in Hackney, two parks which permit barbecues in designated areas.

This article has been produced by FollowUK. The place to follow UK Bank Holidays 2013 dates, not to forget dates for special occasions and important events.

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Borough Market, London, UK by Garry Knight

Food and Drink

London has followed in the footsteps of its Atlantic cousins (New York, Chicago, California) and has seen an explosion in street food. The absolute abundance of nationalities that live in London combine to make an incredibly ethnic diverse cuisine, served at street level. A lot of people believe that the real food of a city can be found at grassroots, which is not coincidentally the cheapest and also the best.

Whether you’re looking for traditional British pies (Eat My Pies) Korean fusion (Kimchi Cult) or Spannish Churros (Churros Garcia) then you won’t be disappointed walking the streets of London. But if street food isn’t for you, you can feel safe in knowing that you can stumble across Michelin Stars as frequently as you do black cabs.

Things to Do

London is incredibly famous for its markets, whether it’s the local stereotypical cockney “4 for £1″ vegetable stalls, all the way up to Portobello Road; your shopping temptations can be satiated across the city. There’s something unique about the London markets, entirely different from Indian or American; there’s a community sense in even the largest collections of stalls.

Immortalised in the Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts film, Notting Hill plays host to a carnival every year which is reason enough to stop by London. Originating from West Indian roots, the carnival has come to encompass everything London and English about the capital; offering parades, music, shopping and incredible feats of open air shopping.

In Southwark, food and shopping combine gloriously in the famous Borough Market. The market is open for wholesalers every weekday in the obscene hours of 2am to 8am but for retail; it opens Thursday to Sunday. The market combines the food from every culture which has settled in London, reflecting the incredible diversity of the city in the medium of delicious food.

If shopping and food isn’t your thing, there are many parts of the city now transformed into tourism paradises. London Dungeons is a great attraction for children, as both entertaining and educating; recreating ghoulish gallows humour around the theme of medieval dungeons in the British capital. The Tower of London, though less for humour, also operates tours with an educational taste.

Photo by Wyemji

Entertainment

Just as New York has Broadway, London has the West End. The theatre shows range from comedies to tragedies, short sharp plays to drawn out epics. The West End is home to some of the longest running plays in the world such as Cats, Les Miserables and The Mousetrap. Such is the power and fame of the theatre of London, you can expect to see international filmstars acting out on small stages in the capital.

London also has an incredible dirge of museums and galleries, with many being free to enter. The British Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are but a few of the great educational resources available to those traveling into London. Wars are remembered in vast memory and tribute across a lot of the city, and those with an eye for paint and canvas would do well to visit the Tate Modern, Whitechapel and the Royal Academy.

Photo by robmcm

London is truly Europe’s greatest city, if not just for the fact that the Royal Family of Great Britain reside there. From this seat, vast corners of the globe were controlled in the days of the Empire and though the influence has dwindled; London has risen up to command the respect of nations ten times the size of the British Isles.

Street Food Ref: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/apr/24/top-10-london-street-food-stalls

This article was created on behalf of Brunel University, a top London university offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

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The Great Outdoors

Chester Zoo

A great attraction all year around but with longer days and fairer weather, summer is the perfect time to take in some of the 8000 amazing animals. With the holidays also come some extra exhibitions. This summer the dinosaurs have returned and 19 life sized robot replicas of the terrible lizards will take visitors back 200 million years.

Jaguars at Chester Zoo, Manchester, UK by Mark Morleo

Canal Festival

Late August sees the Manchester Canal festival with plenty of outdoor activities near the water for all of the family to enjoy. With nature trails, arts workshops horse boat tours and the spectacle of a Float-In movie it’s a great excuse to take a trip down the Rochdale Canal.

The Manchester Picnic

While some food festivals are purely for the connoisseurs, this one invites all the family to enjoy the tasty treats on offer over a long August weekend. 16 gourmet street food traders from all around the world gather at Piccadilly Gardens to share their native cuisines that will inspire you to try some of the wonderful restaurants in Manchester. As well as the fantastic food there are also activities for children and live music on offer.

Rainy day outings

Manchester Museum

With an amazing array of exhibits from around the world over its four floors and 15 galleries, there is so much to explore. The special Unearthed: Ancient Egypt exhibition is perfect for children and they can gain and archaeology certificate by helping Professor Digby catalogue all of his finds in the Egyptologist’s storeroom.

National Football Museum

Football looms large in Manchester with the great rival between United and City. This museum explores the relationship football has with people through past and present. The museum features a series of exhibitions with displays on the world’s greatest players, the laws of the game, managers and stadiums there will be something to entertain any football fan.

Museum of Science and Industry

Located on the site of the world’s oldest remaining passenger railway station this museum tells the incredible story of Manchester’s industrial past. There is so much to learn about this city and its innovations in the past, present and future from the age of steam with locomotives to the space age in the planetarium.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article was written on behalf of Malmaison.

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There are numerous food markets dotted around London, not only selling fresh ingredients but also tasty street food. These are my top picks.

London’s Borough Market / Garry Knight

Borough Market is probably the most famous food market in London with a huge range of delicious produce.  The food market’s location can be traced back to the 13^th century and whilst times have changed and the variety of food available has grown considerably, the ethos has remained the same, with quality produce and knowledgeable vendors. Borough Market is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Open from 5am-8.30am (Tuesday to Saturday), a visit to Billingsgate Fish Market certainly rules out a lie-in but, if you enjoy new experiences, it will be worth it. The early morning banter and passionate salesmen, not to mention the powerful fishy fragrance, will be sure to wake you up. Not only is this the place to get the freshest of fish, it also offers a seafood training school (varying in price depending on the level). The market is steeped in tradition and was once the largest fish market in the world. ‘Billingsgate’ has even been coined as a catchphrase to describe the coarse language used by the vendors. Don’t let this put you off though as it creates an unforgettable experience and the fish bought home will be the star of any meal.

If you are looking for unique and authentic food from around the world, make your way to edgy Brick Lane Sunday UpMarket (open every Sunday from 10am to 5pm). The market also has stalls selling fashion and art, probably equating to a very long day of browsing! Luckily, fuel is on offer in the form of huge pans of Spanish paella, punchy Indian street food or perhaps a refreshing mango lassi.

Broadway Market, London / Jeff Easter

Broadway Market in Hackney is open from 9 until 5 every Saturday.  It offers an excellent variety of food, such as organic meat, fruit, vegetables and bread, which is often cheaper than that in the supermarkets. Visit F.Cooke’s pie and mash shop (established in 1900 and now run by Fred’s grandson) to try some traditional jellied eels, an acquired taste but one which must be experienced!

Finally, London Farmers’ Markets are dotted all over the city and provide high-quality, locally sourced produce. Their website, www.lfm.org.uk, provides directions and opening times for all the market locations and specifies what they sell (it also has some recipes for inspiration).

After a day of looking at, smelling and tasting food your stomach will be expecting only the best. Whether it be organic fillet steak with seasonal veg or perhaps a fragrant chicken curry with fresh herbs and exotic chutneys, nowhere can compete with the eclectic and superior produce of the London food markets.

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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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