Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

In that case, I have to recommend to you Le Relais de L'Entrecote (aka "Entrecote") on the rue Saint Benoit, just off Blvd. Saint Germain (very close to rue de Seine, so you could snack on the Croque Monsieur before eating your steak!) The best steak-frites in Paris. I always make it a point to stop in. The only thing on the menu is steak frites, and you simply tell them if you want it rare, medium, or well done. Then you get a green salad and baguette and two helpings of steak and perfect frites with their secret green sauce. Tourists and Parisians alike flock there, so get there before 7:30 to avoid the lines. Their house red and profiteroles are a good way to finish it all off!

And of course, you have to go to Laduree, on the rue Bonaparte. The best macarons in the city--I recommend the rose and pistachio very highly. The perfect place for a decadent tea. I'll be writing more about Laduree and macarons today in French Revolution if you want to read more about how to make (and eat!) macarons.

You could also buy a little picnic at Paul, at the corner of rue de Seine and rue de Buci, and be very Parisian and eat it sitting on the pont des arts. Or, you could visit the Champion supermarket next door, and make the Paul sandwiches yourself .

Bon voyage!

UVA on the uppereast...easy and good and chic and warm

Sylvia's in Harlem...

Sorry, the recipe link to the mint creme fraiche: mint creme fraiche

What a coincidence! I just did a French picnic feature for my blog last week. It has recipes for a cold "Soupe au Pistou" Pasta, renovated Pan Bagnat, and watermelon salad with raspberries and rosewater. All great for a picnic...

http://frenchrevolutionfood.blogspot.com/2008/06/le-picnic.html
(for the recipes)

or just go to www.frenchrevolutionfood.com and search for "le picnic" in the blog archive...

Tea addict here. The very best tea I've found is actually French - Marriage Freres. You can get beautiful cans of it at McNulty's Coffee on Christopher Street (close to Hudson Street). Their Earl Grey French Blue is fantastic and has pretty blue flower petals in it. My all-time afternoon tea is their Grands Augustins, which is light with a bit of citrus. Marco Polo is their big seller, but I find it a bit heavy. Of course, the best way to get this tea is to go for brunch at their tea shop in Paris, but, barring that, try all the flavors you can find here. (I've also seen Marriage Frere's teas at Ballducci's.)

At the other end of the spectrum, in the summer I drink gallons of sweetened iced tea made from grocery store tea bags (classic Lipton, thank you very much), brewed with fresh mint from the Green Market. It is delicious and nicely D'Agostino's-meets-Marrakesh. (Tip - My favorite farmer told me to wrap fresh mint in damp paper towels and sealed in a plastic container. I've had it last for over 2 weeks this way.)

Veloce family of bars in EV - Bar Veloce on 2nd Ave. (Italian), Bar Carrera - next door to Veloce, with a new room added this past summer (Spanish) and Solex on 1st Ave. (French). All 3 have great snacks and a nice selection of wine. Terroir has been a nice addition to the neighborhood as well.

The best is at a new place that's not on your radar yet but should be: the redhead at 349 E. 13th Street (just west of 1st Ave.) Meg's fried chicken is amazing - crisp, greaseless, delicious.

[disclosure: I get extra pickled onions in my Gibson here]

Rack & Soul was excellent. However, as part of my due diligence I plan on trying many more offerings from around the city. Georgia's here I come.

How 'bout Birdies in the east village? It's on first ave between 9th and 10th. Not only is the chicken great, but the sides and desserts are amazing. Gotta try the peach cobbler if you go.