WALK past Paris' popular sidewalk cafes anytime between midday and midnight and the scene will be the same - tourists, students and office-workers mill around waiting for a table to take advantage of the glorious weather.
Once seated, they indulge in a cup of creamy cafe au lait, a glass of chilled chablis or a short, sharp shot of pastis.
The French obsession with food and drink is as healthy as ever, and their insistence on quality as strong.
In the middle of the afternoon, company executives take a quick 15-minute break to nip outside for a coffee and cigarette while shoppers stop for a bottle of Badoit at the nearest cafe, a crisp baguette sandwich near at hand.
Even tourists have learned that you do not expect butter as the pre-lunch bread basket is served in a French brasserie.
Eating out in Paris also means you need to know what to look for: there are the famous bars such as the one at the Ritz Hotel and Harry's near the Opera, popular pubs like James Joyce, established bistros, brasseries, cafes and salons de the in the league of Angelina's on Rue de Rivoli where the hot chocolate is so thick that your finger biscuit will stand up in it.