Don’t get me wrong. I love Paris but there are three things that the French know nothing about: Bagels,Burgers & Bloody Marys and you can get them all at the Paris outpost of JOE ALLEN,the famed Manhattan theater district saloon. On the edge of Les Halles it arrived almost simultaneously with the destruction of that culinary icon. I had my first burger there in 1976.

On the site of a giant “pawnshop” authorized by Louis XVI in 1777 a magnificent dining room emerged under the glass dome in what had been the auction room. This was not the traditional pawnshop with the three hanging balls that we know from film noir. Living on reputation, somewhat like a fallen aristocrat, Dome has been recently taken over by the young restaurateur Cyril Munier who installed the Norman chef Christian LeClere and the results are splendide.

When it opened in 1910 Poulette was a hangout for customers and merchants from Les Halles. The new owners have wisely done nothing more than buffing and scraping, to reveal the magnificence of the Belle Epoque, Muchalike tiles. Wines are in the 5-7:50 euro category and very good. I started my meal with a Minervois Bio at 5 euros.

One senses that time has stood still when entering Chez Georges, a classic Paris bistro since 1964. Waitresses in black dresses with white aprons, crunchy radishes served with butter and salt as you are seated and handwritten menus. All of the classic dishes are served: marinated herring, paté de compagne, celéri remoulade and of course, entrecote, cote de boeuf, grilled sole, salmon in sorrel sauce to name but a few.

Set on the site of the stables of Louis-Philippe and the Orleans family the Bistrot Valois has quickly become a cantine for government workers at the nearby Palais Royal since its opening in late 2013.

At the moment (2013) Mexican food is once again hot in Paris and you can pay a lot of money for acceptable “Mexican” dishes but when I want a real taste of Mexico I head for Iticate.

It was M’s birthday and although we’d eaten many times at the Duke’s Bar at the Hotel Westminster overseen by Chef Christophe Moisand we’d never tried his 1-star Le Céladon. We were warmly welcomed by Alain, the maitre d’ and ushered to our table where moments later Emanuel Traore, the charming General Manager, joined us accompanied by 3 flutes of an excellent champagne rosé.

Elegance is in the details and at Mori Venice Bar it’s in the decor and the cuisine. Remodeled in 2010 in a blend of the crisp modern style of Philippe Starck and the refinement of Italy, you know that you are in for a rich experience from the moment you walk in. Murano glassware, Venetian mirrors, chandeliers made by a client–a veritable museum.