By Carleton Varney- Special to the Palm Beach Daily News

Commercial plane travel is improving, but it bears little resemblance to flights last summer. On board, travelers have found that social distancing, face masks, hand sanitizers and gloves are the norm — and likely will be for quite a while, it seems.

Even so, as we’ve settled into quarantine life, this summer won’t see many of us traveling to Paris or St. Tropez. And a relaxing cruise down the Riviera is completely out of the question.

Even if you won’t be stepping foot on French soil, you can still get a touch of France by traveling our beautiful coastal road to the bridge that takes you into downtown Lake Worth. There, you’ll discover a recently opened French bakery called Vincent’s Bistro, where the croissants, the brioche and the pastries are as good if not better than the ones I’ve sampled at the InterContinental Carlton hotel in Cannes.

This bistro at 516 Lucerne Ave. is open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with dinner served 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Proprietors Vincent and Christine Durin have put together a varied and friendly menu, including vegetarian specialties. You’ll find a variety of quiches — and the ratatouille omelet is a must-try.

The décor will bring you happily back to Paris, with murals of the Seine and la tour Eiffel covering the walls. The artwork shows you how a lovely ambience can be achieved when a gifted muralist comes to town.

For a dining room in your Palm Beach home, why not consider a wall with a mural? a mural can depict any dream place in the world. Perhaps it will transport you to Morocco or Istanbul- or to the shores of your favorite island, simply with a paint brush in the hands of a talented artist.

In today's world of design, where one either is a maximalist or minimalist, a well-thought-out and beautifully executed mural will please almost anyone, whether it adds dimension to a wall in a dining room, a foyer or a drawing room.

Travel this summer may be limited, but you can still get a taste of Paris in Lake Worth, courtesy of the Durins and Vincent's Bistro, which is a welcome addition to our local dining scene. my suggestion is to order the lemon tart for dessert or maybe the Napolean, or perhaps the chocolate mousse, for just $5. The prices of all entrees, too, are very reasonable.

Bon Appetit!