The 6th arrondissement, around the Luxembourg Gardens, is teeming with high schools, grammar schools, and even universities. No wonder the streets are lined with sandwich-porting mobs of ravenous students from 12-2. However, the lengthy lines forming at bakeries at lunchtime are a pretty reliable way to tell which is the "best" place to grab your noontime baguette.

5 Rue Vavin is my standby boulangerie. I've stood in enough neighborhood lunch lines to know the home-made mayonnaise is worth waiting for, and the prices are more than reasonable.

My pick? "Thon" (tunafish) or "Poulet curry" (Chicken curry). Don't forget to grab a pastry or Rose de Sable (crunchy chocolate dessert) for dessert.