Americans eat every meal as though it will be their last. French know that there will be more tomorrow. So they look at life with a greater sense of equilibrium than we do. There is a huge Asian culture in France, especially Vietnamese. The French are extremely impressed with Japanese discipline and style in the kitchen, and I think many French chefs have been greatly influenced by the style and technique and look of Japanese cooking.
Allergies are very, very personal.
In general, because there are more sulfites in white wine, more people have trouble with white wine. But sour cherries are also delicious. The freshness is important, not necessarily the type of cherry used. One finds classic French restaurants in all neighborhoods. Some of the oldest can be found in the 1st arrondissement, near the Palais Royal, such as Le Grand Vefour.