Flesh for Lulu

When I was misspending my youth around the streets of Soho it was a fairly common experience to be asked the question, "Looking for business," by a woman whose age could be anything from 17 to 50. I was reminded of those far off years whilst visiting the Latin Quarter of Paris last weekend, only this time it wasn't human flesh on offer but food.

Just as back in the day the doorways of Soho were lined with signs that read "New Model," "French Lessons," and the shops all sold 'XXXX Films,' which were obviously a lot ruder than those who had merely one, two or three X's, so the streets of the Latin Quarter are lined with food shops, takeaways and restaurants. In place of the old tarts are restaurant owners, waiters and men with berets and comedy moustaches calling out to you with the promise of a three course lunch for €15. You can eat French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Turkish - in fact most of the major European cuisines are available in and around the dozen or so streets that make up the area. It's not just bars and restaurants either, there are cake shops, sweet shops, shops selling food from South Tunisia, no idea what's wrong with food from Tunisia's other compass points but it obviously doesn't travel as well.

The food is of a good standard and there doesn't appear to have been the urge to buy ready made food in, you can see and smell the food being cooked. Paris has embraced the old regional concept of cheap three course meals. The popularity of one establishment offering this could be seen close to our hotel in the 17th Arrondisement (close to the Arc de Triomphe for those not familiar with the geography of this fine city) where on Friday night there were about sixty people lining the street waiting to get in at just after 6 p.m. It's worth the wait, if you do have to wait, because the food is cooked on the premises and the portions are big enough for even the most demanding diner.

Paris has always been very well served (no pun intended) in respect of the middle to top end of the eating out experience and there are no shortage of fast food outlets either but with a meal from restaurants like these costing only €3 more than that offered by the local McDonalds, with the added bonus of real vegetables, real steak and real chicken there is certainly room for both - oh and the hash browns are to die for!