Forget Michelin and all the accepted ways of finding great food and adopt my method - Parking.
Stuck in the Roller with the UK papers I decided to have a snack and read them whilst sitting outside in the sun.
Found a parking space in front of a rather ordinary little place behind the old port.
When I went in it was packed, buzzing with Nicois locals. I grabbed a small table and had one of the great meals of my life.
A huge plate of delicious, marinated salmon, fresh and delicious in lemon juice, olive oil, herbs. Warm crusty bread. An Ice cold beer and large bottle of sparkling water. Main course; a large bowl of penne, cooked perfectly, in a chicken, gorgonzola and cream sauce. Afterwards, a mug of cappuccino. Total bill -

I`m on my first ever trip to France in a tourist area soon, to Paris, for a pre-honeymoon, I have allways managed to avoid the touristy type places, apart from obviously Calais and Dieppe, if they count. I do agree though, that so many people miss out on basic foods of the French and I dispaired when I saw a Mcdonalds there last year outside a small village in Normandy.
It`s interesting how much pasta you can get in France now as well, and indeed pizza of all things.
There was this wonderful place we ate in last summer in which all the salad was stored in a big wooden barrel full of water outside the kitchen.
I believe with all food, you should go with the locals choice.
I would have passed on the penne though, and I really don`t like French beer. I find it far too bitter.
I like the ciders or that all too red stuff that you put with water, of which name I have forgotten.

This was interesting last night as the last time I went to this place, I was in my vegetarian phase and there was very little choice, which is actually one of the reasons that I gave the obsession up.
Last night, we went for the whole bit, fantastic barbequed spare ribs and chicken wings, deep fried breaded chillies,tiger prawns, lamb meat balls and guess what?
The most disgusting inedible soft cheese and pepper roll, which is what put me off Spanish food in the first place. I don`t regret my vegetarian years, as the period taught me a lot about food, but I stand aghast at anyone who has a pallete that accepts any soft cheese with red pepper. It`s an incredibly cloying combination of flavours.
The ribs were perfection though, I have never had meat fall off them as if they were melted butter before.
The sign of a good evening meal, is when you wake up hungry, the sign of a good Indian meal is when you wake up with regret that you did not bring the bit you left home in a doggy bag for breakfast.
However, I am rather glad I did not bring the soft cheese and red pepper rolls back.
Bring on the streaky bacon sarnie!