Oakland, Calif.: Hi! My fiancee and I are going to Paris and Provence for our honeymoon this summer. She has celiac's disease so is gluten-free. Any recommendations for her dietary restriction while there?

Clotilde Dusoulier: Unfortunately, the French tend not to be very well informed on the gluten-free diet, so eating out can prove a challenge. I suggest you print out one of those cards that explain (in French) what gluten-free means and what your fiancee cannot eat. In general, she should always ask that the chef hold the sauce (generally thickened with flour).

Of course, renting an apartment with a kitchen in which you can cook your own meals will make things a lot easier, and you'll be able to find gluten-free foods in natural foods stores.

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Syracuse, N.Y.: Hello! My husband and I are thinking of taking a trip to Paris in the spring of 2009. I am a cheese lover and we would like to know if there are any cheese tasting tours anywhere in Paris or nearby. We both also want to be able to experience Paris but maybe take a day or two to see smaller, country towns near to Paris as well that give us a feel for a more simple France. Thanks in advance! Marci

Clotilde Dusoulier: I can't recommend a cheese tasting tour per se, but you don't really need a tour guide to taste cheese in Paris: if you visit a good cheese shop where they refine their own cheese (such as Laurent Dubois in the 15th), they'll be able to advise you on an assortment of what's best on that particular day.

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Los Angeles, Calif.: We will be going to Paris for one week in June with children ages 5 and 8. What are some great kid friendly restaurants, cafes, meal ideas? What is absolutely a not to be missed event for kids in Paris? Thank you.

Clotilde Dusoulier: "Picnic-style" eating (see above) is perfect with children, and they'll likely enjoy visiting the markets to put together the menu with you. Other than that, large brasserie-style restaurants are kid-friendly, and I can recommend Chartier in the 9th, or Brasserie Wepler in the 18th.

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Sao Paulo, Brazil: Please suggest some cooking ingrediants that are only available in Paris (or France) that I could buy to take back to Brazil. For instance in Brazil, we have dende oil, malagueta peppers, and a kind of canned cream that is used alot. I do not see these items other places. Merci.

Clotilde Dusoulier: For edible souvenirs that travel well, I can suggest hazelnut oil, fleur de sel, salted butter caramels, good mustard from Brives or Meaux, Tarbais beans, dried mushrooms, Espelette chili pepper... You'll find all those things at gourmet grocery stores, such as Lafayette Gourmet in the 9th.

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Clotilde Dusoulier: Thank you very much for participation, and I wish you all a delicious stay in Paris!

You can read about my cooking pursuits on my blog, Chocolate & Zucchini, and take a look at my new book on Paris restaurants and food shops, Clotilde's Edible Adventures in Paris, in which I share more tips, recommendations, and recipes on how to navigate the Paris food scene.