If French is the language of diplomacy then French food must be what feeds that diplomacy. Nowhere in the world is such care and precision exercised when it comes to preparing pastries and cakes. The French Cordon Bleu Colleges are the envy of the cooking world and anyone trained therein comes out with a deep love of food and the processes by which the recipes are interpreted and prepared. The French have been long renowned for their delicate pastries their decadent recipes and for having some of the best restaurants in the world.

Paris boasts over 8000 restaurants. With this many restaurants there is truly something for everyone. There are the true gastronomic restaurants where the food reigns supreme…Le Pussiflore, Gerard Besson – the beautiful restaurants that combine old world ambience and charm with ageless recipes…Mollard, Le train bleu, Cafe du commerce. Try the more affordable French restaurants where dining is still the experience it should be yet at a down to earth price… La Touraine, Appolo, Bouillon Racine. Or choose one of the many restaurants with a view to delight the sight as well the food to entice the palate….Le ciel de Paris or 58 Tour Eiffel.

Napoleon Squares with their mouth-watering puff pastry, creamy vanilla filling and sweet fondant icing are probably the most famous of the French pastries. Following a close second would be the Petite Four cakes. Sweet fondant covered white cake are the perfect complement to an afternoon cup of tea. French recipes have come to us through hundreds of years, through times of war, strife and opulence. Perfected and handed down from generation to generation, these recipes remain a favourite for every generation.

To experience food prepared at its very finest by some of the most amazing chefs in the city known around the world for its gastronomy, you must make your way to Paris.

Wine connoisseurs use the term “fine wines” to refer to those wines that are the rarest or highest quality. Typically, fine wines tend to be more expensive than other varieties. Agreeing on what is the “best wine” is practically impossible, but there are often debates about what qualities to look for in these products. A fine wine should be superior in its appearance, taste, and quality. Experts will often describe a fine wine by using terms such as breed, polish, or class. There are many ways of rating wines, and fine wines will usually stand at the top of the ratings. Winemakers use four basic criteria to rate the quality of different wines.

The first basic criteria for judging the quality of a wine is its balance. In the best wines, no one component of a wine’s taste dominates the others. While it is a matter of individual taste, fine wines will typically avoid being too strong in one particular aspect of taste (for example, fruitiness or acidity.) Wine experts usually also refer to a wine’s length. This refers to how long the taste stays in your mouth. A good wine should not be gone immediately; the taste should linger for a while on your taste buds. A fine wine’s taste should also be complex and have several notes, or components. Wines with tastes that are too simple or straightforward are often not considered high-quality fine wines.

One last aspect to look for in a wine is how well it represents its particular region or family. There are several qualities that are unique to certain regions. For example, some of the most famous Australian wines are the “Big Red” varieties, like Pinot Noir. A fine wine will prove to be an outstanding example of a particular region’s strengths.

The number of cooking shows increased substantially over the last decade. These shows not only teach new recipes and introduce culinary ideas, they entertain as well. Most people watch cooking shows on the Food Network, the Travel Channel or some other major network. However, a few shows and their culinary hosts stand out more than others.

MasterChef: A popular show on the FOX network, is hosted by judges Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich. Gordon Ramsay hosted “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Kitchen Nightmares”. Graham Elliot is currently one of the youngest, professional four-star chefs in the United States. Joe Bastianich’s expertise on wine-making makes him a tough judge to win over. MasterChef takes ordinary and inspiring cooks into the world of culinary cuisine. They compete against each other in a succession of difficult contests for the ultimate title of Master Chef.

Jamie Oliver: Jamie Oliver hails from Great Britain. He’s the host, author and entrepreneur of best-selling books, television shows and food. Oliver’s high-ranking cooking show “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” attracted millions of food connoisseurs and amateur audiences alike. His love for food and cooking makes Jamie Oliver a top chef all over the world.

Heston Blumenthal: “Heston Blumenthal In Search of Perfection” is Heston Blumenthal’s cooking show on BBC Two. Born in London, this food star is anything but boring. Heston Blumenthal’s way of cooking takes ordinary food and turns it into culinary masterpieces by using the most unique methods in cooking today. He uses scientific approaches to create dishes. Blumenthal is similar to Alton Brown’s ”Good Eats”, the Food Network’s star food scientist.

Finding the best places to dine is essential to traveling. These 10 top cities and restaurants with the best dining are just what travellers’ need.

Raoul’s New York Bistro Nouvelle Restaurant: This French haute eatery boasts a chic ambiance in New York City. Try seafood, meat and vegetable dishes prepared with a French touch.

Aquaknox: Immerse yourself in caviar, lobster and tender filet mignon as you take in the ocean blue decor of the Aquaknox.

Blue Ginger: Take a seat at Boston’s Blue Ginger Asian Restaurant. This popular dining spot has everything from spicy tuna rolls to killer cheese cake tempura desserts.

Nana: Texas’ best dining options include Nana. This New American style restaurant sits on Hilton’s 27th floor. Enjoy a menu of mouth-watering American dishes while taking in panoramic views of the city below.

Azul: Azul’s fusion menu of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine makes this Downtown Miami restaurant one to check out. Trying the extensive wine menu is a must.

Fulton Five: Charleston, South Carolina’s finest dining begins here. You only get Old World Italian dishes at Fulton Five.

Las Palmeras: Dine in Atlanta, Georgia’s best Cuban eatery. Authentic pork dishes top the list of best food at Las Palmeras.

Sea Porch Café: Head to Saint Petersburg, Florida and dine at the Don CeSar’s Sea Porch Cafe. Fresh cuisine served on the beach is ideal for any dining experience.

Macrina Bakery Café: Enjoy brunch at this Seattle, Washington cafe. Delicious desserts, hot coffee and pastries are great for a mid-morning break.

Venus Greek-Cypriot Cuisine: After seeing the sights in the Windy City, dine at this Greek favourite. It’s one of Chicago’s best places to find tapas.

The world’s best chefs and cooks received this status by working hard and diligently to learn the craft of cooking. They attended the best culinary schools, worked in the best restaurants and perfected the most delicious dishes. Although the list of great chefs is long, here are three that made famous food and opened famous restaurants around the world.

Emeril Lagasse

Emeril Lagasse opened his first successful restaurant in 1990. This famous chef began his career baking bread at a local bakery. After attending culinary school, he travelled to Europe, perfected his skills and returned to the United States ready to take on cooking. He’s graced the Food Network with two successful shows. He currently designs cookware and has a number of restaurants in Miami, New Orleans and Las Vegas. His most famous is the multiple award-winning Emeril’s New Orleans. This fine restaurant is recognized for its fine food and service.

Giada De Laurentiis

Beautiful, smart and successful in the culinary arts describes Giada De Laurentiis. This world famous chef brings tasty dishes to the small screen every day of the week, and travels to the most popular locations around the world. In 2008, this chef’s influence made a mark with Barilla, the pasta-making giant. They introduced four unique products with De Laurentiis’ name and influence on the label.

David Chang

This chef introduced the world to his take on New American dishes made with an Asian touch. After graduating New York City’s French Culinary Institute, Chang went on to bigger and better things. He opened the Momofuku Noodle Bar and the Momofuku Ssam Bar in New York. With three successful restaurants under his belt, David Chang made Asian-style burritos and haute noodle dishes popular and famous.