Bastille Day

[Gifted Gourmet]

Just as we have some traditional foods associated with the Fourth Of July in the United States, I began to wonder if the same applies to France and their similar holiday.

Are there any specific foods for this celebration?

The threads here to date, were focused primarily upon what restaurants served but what about personal, home meals?

[srhcb]

frog?

[Gifted Gourmet]

frog?

political commentary or fried legs of??

[FaustianBargain]

roasted royals?

edited to add google search result.

Edited July 11, 2004 by Lalitha (log)

[Gifted Gourmet]

Merci tellement de cette page Web!

[Rachel Perlow]

Cookin' in Brooklyn on Discovery Home channel (286 on DirecTV) has a Bastille Day episode on this week (it airs about 7 more times, here's a link to the schedule). The show is sort of silly/kitch, in a way similar to Mario Eats Italy, only in Brooklyn, NY. In this episode, there was an interesting visit to D'Artagnan in Newark, NJ, then the host, Alan Harding, cooked various French or French inspired delicacies at a Bastille Day street fair in Brooklyn.

Recipes:

Merguez (Lamb Sausage) with Mustard
Rouille: French Mayonnaise
Grilled Duck Liver with Apricot and Bacon
Duck Salad
Peach and Blueberry Compote with Crepes

[bleudauvergne]

Hmmm. Bastille day. I'm really not sure. The New York Times has a list of a few French themed restaurants offering Bastille day specials. I have never had a special set kind of food on the Bastille day holiday, they don't grill meats and drink beer, that's for sure. It's a day off, a chance for the family to get together for a meal... When we've attended parties it has involved a lot of wine (but then again most parties with our friends do no matter what the occasion). The past 2 Bastille days we have had kebabs because we were out watching the fireworks and they had set up stands on every corner to feed the crowds. It was the only food available. But this year, if we're not rained out, the fireworks will take place on the 13th for some reason only known to the city of Lyon. Public transport is stopped as usual on any day involving a "fete".

[Jason Perlow]

I have never had a special set kind of food on the Bastille day holiday, they don't grill meats and drink beer,  that's for sure.  It's a day off, a chance for the family to get together for a meal...

Yeah but in Lyon, don't you have all those weird enclosed narrow Traboule corridors linking all the buildings, which would sort of prevent you from grilling because most of the buildings dont have backyards or outdoor terraces? Paris would be somewhat different in how they celebrate, right?

[marlena spieler]

it seems as if the night before, ie the 13th, there is often a fireman's bal, an outside dancing shindig sort of late night bacchanal........in paris it might be in different arrondissments? and in paris, a parade on the 14th down champs elysees........

i think that food is such a part of everyday life in france that on this specific celebration there is nothing specific. of course thoughout the land there will be food celebrations all summer and into the autumn. fete du l'ail, fete des chataignes, fete de l'ailoli.......with long benches and tables set out in the town square, big pots of aioli, veggies, fish etc.

or the strawberry fest a friend just went to in perigord: a massive huge village large strawberry tart was on the menu and every body had a taste.

but try as i might i also haven't come up with that special dish which french people save to celebrate their independence day. cake perhaps? (please forgive.....).

[bleudauvergne]

I have never had a special set kind of food on the Bastille day holiday, they don't grill meats and drink beer,  that's for sure.  It's a day off, a chance for the family to get together for a meal...

Yeah but in Lyon, don't you have all those weird enclosed narrow Traboule corridors linking all the buildings, which would sort of prevent you from grilling because most of the buildings dont have backyards or outdoor terraces? Paris would be somewhat different in how they celebrate, right?

In Paris it's about the same thing as Lyon. There are sound systems set up, for dancing in squares thoughout the city. I don't think grilling even crosses the minds of the people here. We were in Paris a few years ago, and spent our Bastille day walking, and we did go to the Fireman's Bal where they were blasting techno music. What did we eat? I don't remember. The beer was expensive and hard to get. Last night we went outside for the fireworks. A lot of young people were drinking beer and blowing off firecrackers in the square in front of our house. Everything came to a stop, even the traffic along the Quai, when the fireworks started. Every other street corner was set up with a stand selling beer and kebab (lamb or veal) sandwiches.

I asked my husband if the French eat anything special, and he said no. I also quizzed a few people at work just to be sure and they confirmed that the menu on Bastille day is not something set like Fois gras on Christmas or Oysters on New Years.

[dymnyno]

I am cooking steak and fries and CANNELES!!! After a week drinking wine in St. Emillion and having canneles every day I am hooked on these French treats. The steak and fries seem to be on the menu of many French bistros. (such as Bouchon in Yountville)

[chefzadi]

I'll be working. It's not a national holiday in America, obviously. The week is pretty packed for me, I also have special classes and a workshop lined up in celebration of Bastille day.

I'm getting a little homesick, especially since my mother is ill.

On Bastille everybody in Montmerle would gather for a picnic by the Saone, then go to the center of the village to dance and drink, and drink some more.

Mick Micheyl is a resident of Montmerle, she was a well known artist especially in the 60's in Paris. She was (possibly still is) associated with Les Dryades. She gave me one of my first jobs there. She would pick me up in her helicopter to take to work sometimes. I also had a room in the hotel. The chef was an old pro, in the finest sense. He worked in top tier places, including Michelin starred places. He would buy 35 different types of yogurt and we would spend a couple of hours doing a yogurt tasting. I was talking about this someone the other day, and he said, "What, a yogurt tasting? 35 different kinds?!??!"

I'm homesick and rambling a bit.

So what will you be doing for France's national holiday?

[marlena spieler]

what with all of the craziness around me, i completely forgot about Bastille Day. AND I'm going on a wine and food pairing in Bergerac from Sunday to Tuesday night--if only we could have stayed through the celebrations!

I'll be back in Blighty by the time the fireworks are going off on the other side of la manche!

happy Bastille Day, Farid! And i wish your mother health,

marlena

[John Talbott]

Sorry to hear that Farid. Hope she's better.

For me, it'll be watching the parade on TV; going out to lunch; watching the TDF stage to Digne-les-Bains, eating dinner home and trying to ignore the fire-crackers on the street.

Be well.

[Eden]

We've invited over a handful of friends for a French themed dinner. (we may not BE french, but we sure appreciate the bits of food & culture they send our way!)

The menu will include an array of french cheese, wine & olives of course.

I may even bust out & buy a loaf of Poulaine bread (one of the local stores has it FedExed in from Paris )

A lamb and olive roast from Nimes

The celery root and apple puree from Wolfert's "cooking of Southern France"

probably a red pepper and tomato salad or maybe a green salad with roasted chevre? (more cheese can't be wrong!)

and either a fresh fruit tart, Mont-blanc or Prunes in armagnac for dessert

plus whatever ice-cream/sorbet Bill feels like making that week.

Still a bit up in the air...

[zeitoun]

I usually do not celebrate, pretty much these days for the same reasons Farid mentionned. Nevertheless, one of the French bistros on my street in NY organizes something every year. They shut the street to traffic, dump tons of sand and set up some kind of Petanque tournament. This is all accompanied of course by a fair amount of food and drinks.

Never thought of participating, but I might this year if I have nothing else planned that day, just for the hell of it..

Sorry to hear about your mother Farid, bon courage..

[Carlsbad]

Chef Zadi, I thought your "rambling" was very nice. I wish your mother good health and I hope that you see her again soon. I will be spending the day preparing for our long-awaited two weeks in Paris. We arrive on the 19th, too late for the holiday, but we will celebrate nonetheless.

[chefzadi]

It's turning into more like Bastille week. I'm missing out on a grill this Saturday with friends in the aftertoon because I have to teach. In the evening though we have another get together, everyone wants couscous, roast chicken with preserved lemons and olives and few side dishes.

I already mentioned that the actual day and evening of I'll be teaching so I can't attend some of the special dinners at the local French restaurants, alot of the menus seem more Provence inspired for some reason.

Next weekend there's more a picnic with roast chicken, salad, cheeses, olives, bread, a fruit tart or chocolate cake, etc... (no pan bagnat)

I'll try to post some pics.

(To everyone who responded in this thread and via PM, thank you for you concerns about my mother. She should get through it, but she has chronic health problems.)

[mhadam]

We will be going to the Chef Pierre's Creperie, in Crystal Lake, for dinner as we have for the last four years.

[Eden]

alot of the menus seem more Provence inspired for some reason.

I noticed that in my own menu. Maybe it's because with summer all the lovely mediterannean type produce (peppers, tomatoes etc) is available, and that's what's on people's minds? From reading previous threads on this topic I gather there are no particular foods traditionally associated with Bastille Day to anchor a menu around so I just asked myself "what do I feel like cooking that's from my French repertoire?"

Most of my favorite dishes from my visits to Paris are a little heavier and don't seem right with warm weather. Of course that could be because I never visit Europe in the summer

[Busboy]

In honor of the people of France, and the spirit of liberte, egalite and fraternite we will leave the pits in our cherry clafoutis. (We will also learn how to put accents onto our e's.)

Mrs. B and I are scheduled to cook an "authentic" french bistro meal for eight on the night of the 16th -- our services were purchased at auction at our daughter's school -- so perhaps we'll turn that into a Bastille Day bash, late though it is.

Any suggestions on traditional Bastille Day dishes?

(Did I ever tell you about the time I wandered around Place du Bastille looking for the Bastille itself?)

[Luckylies]

I have a 5 hour practical culinary final and my graduation from culinary school! yipee!!!!!!

[chefzadi]

In honor of the people of France, and the spirit of liberte, egalite and fraternite we will leave the pits in our cherry clafoutis.  (We will also learn how to put accents onto our e's.)

Mrs. B and I are scheduled to cook an "authentic" french bistro meal for eight on the night of the 16th -- our services were purchased at auction at our daughter's school -- so perhaps we'll turn that into a Bastille Day bash, late though it is.

Any suggestions on traditional Bastille Day dishes?

(Did I ever tell you about the time I wandered around Place du Bastille looking for the Bastille itself?)

←

Typing French accents, another option and more.

You'll notice I rarely type in the accents.

A menu for a Bastille Day picnic would be pretty simple. Wine, bread, cheeses, charcuterie, maybe some savory tarts, pastries, etc... Most of it store bought.

For dinner if you want to do a bistro meal with a Bastille day theme, I'll post some menu suggestions later.

[SuzySushi]

Typing French accents, another option and more.

You'll notice I rarely type in the accents.

←

Merci beaucoup!

[winesonoma]

Camping in the high desert of Nevada, Ghost town, Steam Trains and a giant copper mine. Foie and French cheese for shacks.