When celebrating "Fete Natinale," (Bastille Day), haute-cuisine (literally, "high cooking") is not the norm when planning your Bastille Day menu. Opting for the standard cooking of the peasants who were responsible for starting the French Revolution is much more common. Whichever one you choose, the food will be delicious. Although there are no specific foods that are considered to be traditional Bastille Day fare, there are many wonderful French dishes to choose from. This simple guide will help you in deciphering the different foods eaten on Bastille Day.

Start off Bastille Day with a traditional "petit djeuner" (breakfast). Crepes are a French staple in the morning. Keeping it simple, as the French peasants who stormed the Bastille probably did, you can enjoy basic crepes or crepes with bacon, mushrooms, and spinach. Crepes can be filled with just about anything. To keep it true to the ways of the common French citizens in 1789, make sure the ingredients are fresh and simple. If opting for haute-cuisine, try "Pain au Chocolat" which are chocolate-filled croissants or "Raspberry Pain au Chocolat" or raspberry chocolate croissants.

French lunches (djeuner) usually have two to five courses. Quiche Alsacienne (much like the American version of quiche Lorraine) is a good choice. Whatever you choose for your main course, remember to start with fresh vegetables Don't forget the fresh green salad and a good dry French wine. The cheese course is important to most French meals. You can choose from cheeses made with cow's milk (Munster, Comte', etc.) or cheeses made from goat's milk such as Banon and Beufort. Many of these can be found in your local store's deli department. Other lunch options can include a goat cheese and red onion tart or a broccoli quiche. Desserts can include fruit-filled crepes or clairs.

A traditional French dinner (diner) also has many courses. They are normally started of with a soup. Pumpkin soup or vichyssoise would be good choices for this Bastille Day dinner. Whatever meat you decide to serve whether it be a steak, fish or chicken, don't forget the sauce. The French are famous for their rich sauces. The vegetables you serve should be fresh, keeping with the Bastille Day theme. Not only are the French famous for their sauces, but also for their desserts. Pasties, custards and tarts are excellent choices as well as crepes, if topped with chocolate or other sweets. Of course, there must be wine. Find one that goes with the meat course, remembering to match red wine with red meat and white wine with fish or poultry.

No matter which food you choose for Bastille Day, remember to keep it simple and fresh, if you are opting to follow the customs of the peasants who made this day possible by storming the Bastille. If you are looking for something that would be considered haute-cuisine, the sky is the limit. French food can still be as rich as Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were in their heyday - before the people took back their country.

Learn more about this author, Emma Riley Sutton.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Guide to traditional Bastille Day foods?
We want to hear your view. Write now!