Falafel and eating on the "Mouff"

Smack in the middle of the Jewish quarter in Paris, on rue des Rosiers ('street of the roses") you will find several places selling falafels from streetside windows. The one you want is L'As du Falafel. An exquisite sandwich, or salad in a sandwich, it's made with crisp, fresh produce with chickpea balls that are crispy and crunchy on the outside and moist and tasty sweet on the inside, all stuffed inside of a warm pocket bread that serves nicely as a bowl to eat and walk at the same time. Sitting down will require a wait.

if you're in a mood to sit down and are in the Latin Quarter, try Thania on the rue de Mouffetard ("the Mouff").

First Have a drink or cafe outside at one of the cafes on the Place Contrescarpe and imagine you're Hemingway trying to think how you're going to end your latest novel. Then stroll down "the Mouff," a wonderful street packed with restaurants and small funky shops, until you come to a church at the bottom of the hill. Retrace your steps about two-thirds of the way back up -- sorry -- and on your right you will see this tiny bistro, Thania, which specializes in Savoyard cuisine. (Across the street is a shop that specializes in sweets and pastries form the Savoie as well.)

Once seated, enjoy a bottle of Apremont de Savoie, a crisp white wine, which will go nicely with another specialty of the house, Fondue Savoyard: potatoes and thin slices of ham and bread cubes that you dip into a bubbling pot of reblochon cheese, accompanied by a tiny but very tasty salad.

Just right for lunch!