Quick Bites Before and After a Show in Paris

Here are some easy things to eat before or after a show in Paris. You can eat well almost anywhere in the city, but these are the ones I'd especially recommend.

Bread is a must in Paris, and the baguette, the chouquette and the croissant are the three to try. The baguette is a staple of French life and is recognized as part of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage. It's great torn straight off the loaf, or as a snack with butter or chocolate inside. Baguette sandwiches usually run about 4 to 6 euros, come in plenty of varieties and are delicious. The jambon-beurre is simple, with just a thin layer of butter, yet that simplicity delivers amazing flavor. A baguette sandwich with goat cheese, nuts and honey is also excellent. Chouquettes are like small cream puffs, but with no cream inside and coarse sugar crystals on top, so they're light and sweet at once. Croissants are good at nearly any bakery.

Kebabs make an easy meal, too. You might also try a bouillon, one of the casual restaurants serving home-style French food at good prices. Be warned that the lines at every chain are always very long.

Fast-food places like McDonald's are also handy before a show, and the French menu has some unique items. The McChocoNuts, for example, is a dessert with warm chocolate and nuts. If you order fries, you can choose la sauce pommes-frites, a sauce somewhere between mayonnaise and tartar sauce, instead of ketchup. If you grab a snack or meal there, try it: it's surprisingly addictive.

Another easy snack is saucisson, which you can pick up at any supermarket. It's a dried sausage, a bit like jerky, and really good. It's easy to find in Paris and goes well with wine, but it's also a nice light snack while you travel. Enjoy as much as you like while you're here.