Happy Bastille Day

July 14^th is officially known at the French National Day in France, but outside of France it is called Bastille Day.  As in all things French it is more complicated than our July 4^th.  Here in America we celebrate the day of our independence from Brittan.  In France their national day celebrates the creation of the modern nation that came out of the French revolution.   Of course it took the French over 100 years after the storming of the Bastille to declare July 14^th to be a national holiday.  I guess it is much easier to celebrate a holiday of freedom from another nation than it is to do so about freedom from your own countrymen.

Like all national summer holidays the day is about being outside and eating with your friends and family and let’s face it, having a paid holiday from work, something the French have perfected.  When I was nineteen I spent one perfect Bastille Day in Nantes with the French family I lived with.  I imagine I had a fresh summer fruit salad with succulent peaches and tart red raspberries.  This was followed by a crusty baguette spread with a healthy douse of ripe Brie cheese.  A platter of summer vegetables, both raw and grilled was passed with just a bit of young green olive oil and sea salt and cracked black pepper.  Terrines of pate and smoked chicken studded with pistachios and caper berries followed requiring more bread.  We finished up the picnic with a celebration gateau with strawberries and blueberries between the layers of white cake and fluffy whipped cream to represent the tricolor flag of the republic.  Of course wine and Champagne were served throughout the day and since I was nineteen I was still drinking then.

I am thankful that I do not have to celebrate here today because just the mere thought of all that fattening French food is dimpling my thighs as I write.  I know the French are better at portion control and stretching out their courses for hours means they really end up eating a judicious amount, but that was never something I adopted living there.

If you feel like having an excuse to raise a glass to the French, today’s the day.  They did help us gain independence from the Brits so perhaps they deserve a little recognition.  Since you have run out of time to make your own pate consider making some crepes with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream.  They are not that decadent and you will have the French flag colors represented.  I feel like I have done my duty by just alerting you that today is Bastille Day.  I’ll have arugula and grilled chicken and pretend I still drink wine.