If you're coming to Paris partly to sample the food (and it's great), perhaps the next logical step would be to learn how it's made? Perhaps even make some yourself?

The 2nd annual Cuisinez! event (er, that's "Cook!" for the francophobics amongst you) is a sort of trade show for the public where you can meet chefs, learn about food and participate in cooking courses.

Of course, you'll be able to taste loads of lovely French nosh too!

There will also be a bookshop, exhibition of odd kitchen gadgets and exotic ingredients, an inventive cooking session with Elle magazine, "Kids in the Kitchen", cooking demonstrations, "Cooking Academy", "Cooking Attitude"... Lots of cooking, OK?

My mouth's watering already. Here are all the details:

When: 26th - 28th October 2007
Where: Carrousel du Louvre (1st arrondissement)
Opening times: 26th October 2pm-6pm, 27th & 28th October 10am-7pm
Entrance fee: Adults 10 euros, children (under 12 years old) 7 euros, free for children under 6 years old
What do I do with the kids?: The crèche can look after them, 5 euros for every two hours

Official site (in French only, sorry): http://www.salon-cuisinez.com

By the way, we also have a great friend of the hotels - Emmanuelle Cuchet - who does intimate cooking courses (with added French conversation!) at her typically Parisian flat. She's lovely, and the course involves everything from shopping at the market for the freshest ingredients, to making the food together, to sitting down and eating it all. Yum! All the details are here.