The culture of France and of the French has been shaped by its geography, by profound historical events, and by foreign and internal forces and groups. France, and in particular Paris, has played an important role as a center of high culture and of decorative arts since the seventeenth century, first in Europe, and from the nineteenth century on, world wide. From the late nineteenth century, France has also played an important role in modern art, cinema, fashion and cuisine. The importance of French culture has waned and waxed over the centuries, depending on its economic, political and military importance. French culture today is marked both by great regional and socioeconomic differences and by strong unifying tendencies.

About Peruvian food: thi cuisine is influenced by the many diverse cultures that settled here around the 1800, Spanish, French, Italian, African, Japanese and Chinese, so expect choices like arroz chaufa, Chinese-influence (with beef/chicken), lomo saltado, Spanish, tiradito, Japanece influence, and the most important of all Andean with the potato.

France has always been one of the favourite destinations for Brits both buying or moving abroad. With its culture, food and climate providing an ever popular lifestyle. This is a very established market, still with potential for future growth.

The French confront the unthinkable, obesity, as an envied food culture succumbs to fast foods and larger portions.

The practice causes a snit in the world's culinary capital, with critics seeing it as the demise of French culture and others calling it the democratization of fine dining.

"The rate of obesity in France has doubled in recent years, to 12 percent — a figure approaching U.S. fat stats. A nation once eternally trim must now rethink its approach to eating and even dress sizes." So much for the "French Women Don't Get Fat" book eh? (links to audio news segment)