Celebrate Bastille Day with the finest of French fare

It is the most traditional and many would argue the most delicious of all foods. And there is even more spots than ever to indulge your tastes for all things French.

Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille fortress in Paris in 1789; fortunately for us, the anniversary is now marked only by an attack on the senses.

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BASTILLE FOOD

“Food and wine are universal, but when you come together to eat well, drink well, and share an appreciation for the arts, that’s the French spirit,” Vincent Hernandez declared.

And that’s the inspiration for the Bastille Festival Food collaborations around Circular Quay. There is a vast array of French-inspired food and drinks, an arts precinct at Quay Quarter, and more than 120 acts across the four days. To Vincent, the combination lends itself to a playful circus vibe.

When it comes to the food options, Vincent said, “We asked vendors to elevate their food and create something unique with a French twist just for the Bastille Festival.”

Blue cheese gnocchi. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

There is a strong focus on local producers such as Sofrito Paella’s duck-based paella, Gnocchi Brothers’ blue cheese gnocchi, Camembert on a Stick’s deep fried cheese skewers (brie, blue cheese, Camembert), Zini Contemporary Gelateria’s brie and pear-based gelato Quay Quarter’s French eatery, Bouillon l’Entrecôte’s steak frites with a green vinaigrette salad and all-you-can-eat French fries.

Bon appetit.

CHOUCHOU

Bastille Day has more than a couple of hundred years under its belt, but there is always time for a first. A new neighbourhood French-bistro Chouchou in Bondi is commemorating it for the first time on July 14.

The dinner is a three-course menu with Moulin Rouge-esque entertainment ($95pp), starting with a glass of French sparkling wine and hors d’œuvre followed by a choice of entrée and a main.

Fine French fare at ChouChou. Picture: Pauline Suc

Entrées include escargots cooked in garlic butter; foie gras served with mixed berry jam; and spiced, flash-fried cauliflower florets. Mains include grass-fed beef eye fillet served with a shallot and red wine sauce and crispy accordéon potatoes. There are two dinner seatings available on July 14 – 5pm and 7:30pm

– 13 O’Brien St, Bondi Beach

BASTILLE FESTIVAL

As founder and director of the Sydney Bastille Festival, Vincent Hernandez is deeply proud of how it’s grown from a small market in the front of the Customs House forecourt to a nationally recognised event.

Victor feels that this highly anticipated event, now in its 10th year, has become the embodiment of Bastille Day.

“It’s the freedom to have a glass of wine on the street, dance and listen to music – like you’d do in Europe,” he says. “After 10 years, people are embracing the vibe.”

Some mussells for Bastille Day? Yes, pleasse. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

The festival runs over four days from July 13-16 throughout Circular Quay, Customs House forecourt, and Quay Quarter. Enjoy unique experiences such as Le Mulled Wine Cinema, an open-air theatre at Cadman’s Cottage, sipping hot mulled wine and watching French classics or fun French-themed films.

The Parisian Foodie Village at Customs House offers more than 100 different French dishes. The Chef Village in First Fleet Park features a selection of restaurants serving specialty dishes or embark on the Wine Passport tour, a 1.4km trek that explores eight wine bars. Also head to the Champage and Oyster Jazz Club for fresh seafood, cold bubbles and good music.

-Bastillefestival.com.au

LE MARCHE

The best of France “without the jet lag” – that’s the catchphrase at Le Marché fortnightly market in Willoughby, which is held on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. More than 40 vendors sell traditional French fare, art and homewares.

At Willoughby you can get delicious French fare. Picture: Facebook

Top bakeries offer everything from madeleines, Paris-brest, choux, eclairs, lemon tarts, croquettes to macarons. And alongside the pastries, visitors can savour traditional French dishes. They will celebrate Bastille Day on July 23 .

– Laurelbank Cottage, 85 Penshurst St, Willoughby

BISTRO PAPILLION

Bistro Papillion’s Bastille Day dinners have become so popular the bistro has added a second day to the celebrations.

Boeuf Bourguignon with buttered pasta at Bistro Papillion. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

The generous portions of traditional French fare lure diners for both lunch and dinner. The five-course dinner is $140pp on July 14-15. Choose from a selection of set entrees, mains and desserts. A beret and pencil-thin moustache is up to you.

– 98 Clarence St, Sydney; bistropapillion.com.au