France is often lovingly described as a land of wonderful gastronomic experiences: cassoulet, a casserole of white beans, duck legs and pork; poulet basquaise, tender chicken flavored with ham, tomatoes and peppers; boeuf bourguignon, cuts of beef slowly cooked in red wine and vegetables; the list goes on. Knowing of these traditional French dishes, I was a bit nervous to study abroad in Paris this past summer as a vegetarian. Of course, I knew I wouldn’t starve, but would I miss out on experiencing Paris to the fullest? Would I feel left out of a major part of their culture?