Day One: Landed in Paris and met my driver for the ride into the city center — obligatory ride around the Arc de Triomphe and down Champs-Elysées — to Hotel Bel Ami in the sixth arrondisement, just south of Boulevard Saint-Germain, about a block from the busy street behind Les Deux Magots cafe.

It’s the beginning of the Food Secrets of France tour that I’m co-leading with chef Kevin Fonzo through Art In Voyage — Beyond Travel. I had barely enough time to check into my five-star room (more on that another time) before meeting the group in the lobby to head out on our first tour, a sampling of markets and food shops.

We rode with our guide, Dina, on the Metro to the area above République near Marais. We started walking — on what would be a great day of walking — to Marché des Enfants Rouges, one of the city’s more famous markets, named for the children of an orphanage in the 16th century that were made to wear red.

PARIS — Day 2. 

We stayed mainly in the 7th arrondissement, not too far from our hotel off Boulevard St. Germain. Our afternoon guide, Marie, showed us the Sweet Side of Paris, with chocolate shops, patissiers, more macarons, more chocolates and pastries. I set most of mine aside to try later; wouldn’t want to spoil my dinner at Jules Verne.

Jules Verne is the Alain Ducasse Michelin-starred restaurant on the second level of the Eiffel Tower. After getting through security, our group walked the dusty gravel path —warning for freshly polished shoes and open-toed heels — to the pillar with the private designated elevator to take us to the restaurant. After going through another security check.