French gastronomy is a male-dominated world, and its centuries-old traditions are fiercely protected.

So, although Anne-Sophie Pic is the daughter and granddaughter of Michelin-starred chefs, it was not always clear she would continue the family tradition.

But in 2007, with no formal training, Pic became the only female chef in France (and only the fourth woman in history) to earn the culinary world's top honor - a three-Michelin-star rating - for her family's restaurant, La Maison Pic, in the Rhone-Alpes town of Valence. While in 2011, she was voted World's Best Female Chef as part of the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards.

Read the full story: 'World's best' female chef shares recipe for success

A not-so long time ago in a galaxy far, far away - better known as France, Belgium and Luxembourg - there was a disturbance in the fast food Force.

According to French newspaper L'Express, burger chain Quick will promote the 3D release of “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” by way of a commemoration fit for Jabba the Hutt: with character-themed, double-decker burgers.

The ad campaign, wielding the slogan "choisis ton côté de la Force" (choose your side of the force), will begin on January 31 and end on March 5.

Much like the Galactic Senate itself, Quick seeks to broker peaceful compromise by offering three galactic-themed sandwiches for Chewies everywhere: the Dark Burger, the Jedi Burger and the Dark Vador Burger (whose spelling was seemingly lost in translation).
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They say that our sense of smell is one of the strongest triggers of memories. Of course, our sense of smell is integral to our sense of taste so it is no surprise then that in a life full of moving and traveling, food has always been a source of familiar comfort for me. In particular, one meal from one restaurant stands out above the rest and still stirs precious memories whenever I think about it.

When I was young, Paris was a frequent summer destination for my family, and while I don’t get there very often anymore, whenever I land at Charles DeGaulle airport my mouth starts to water at the very thought that I am only a few miles away from my own personal culinary heaven.
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Alexandra Willingham is a CNN video journalist. She previously introduced us to the culinary delights of Key West.

For all Paris has to offer – history, scenery, romance – food is still a main claim to fame. While it would be impossible to list all of the delicious and varied French dishes you may come across, this a good starter for those lucky enough to visit the City of Lights.

1. French Onion Soup
This savory soup is a common example of a popular stateside dish that has its roots in French cuisine. It is a symphony in three parts: a caramelized onion-laced broth, croutons, and a layer of crunchy, bubbly cheese. Onion soup is on the menu at nearly every restaurant, which means the variety is endless - from light broths to rich, heavy brown stew and a particularly compelling presentation where the soup is poured, tableside, over fried onions atop an onion soufflé.
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