A long-standing Parisian joke contends that locals have two things on their minds, lunch and dinner. But, in fact, food is never far from their thoughts. In the morning, city dwellers will stop into a boulangerie for a freshly baked baguette; in the afternoon they’ll sip an espresso or kir while reading at a café. The typical Parisian bistro is informal, offering a handful of choices often scribbled on a chalkboard, while large, lively brasseries boast a more elegant atmosphere. From specialty shops and markets to restaurants and home kitchens, Parisian cuisine is at once traditional and cosmopolitan – an enviable combination that never ceases to fill the city’s many tables with residents and visitors alike.