The reason Paris is one of my worst food experiences is because my friend with me was craving Chinese. I'm pretty sure what I had was 100% gristle, and what she had gave her food poisoning. We did try to find places that had actually French food, but I don't think we ever found anything with entrees under $25, and we were college students carrying backpacks and staying in hostels, so that didn't quite fly.
I imagine this is the secret pretty much everywhere. But it's easier said than done if you don't actually know Parisians.
Famers market, baguette, salami, cheese, tomato, bottle of wine, find a park. Some of my best times in Paris.
Google maps made my life infinitely easier when I was in Italy recently. Found multiple fantastic cheap restaurants. I do think that's easier in Rome than Paris though.
You just talk to the people you come in contact with, taxi drivers, (if French) doormen, concierges, bell hops, etc.
I think what's happening in Southern cities right now is pretty great. The food in Atlanta, Asheville, Charlotte and Charleston (just to name a few) is extraordinary at the moment.
That is good to hear. Everyone I've spoken with say the same - it is expensive, but felt the food and experience was worth doing it at least once.
Two times I've been there certainly two of the top 10 meals of my life. Once my company paid. That was pretty awesome.
The best pizza I have ever eaten was in NY. I didn't think pizza could be that good. I couldn't tell you the name of the hole-in-the-wall joint it was or where it was. But, I do know that it seemed as big as a dining room table and was absolutely covered with an inch of cheese. It was a Sicilian style piece of Heaven on earth. Amazing.
Now we know why The Bat Woman Incident went down like it did. He was too pissed due to being envious of her costume to ask her out.
