Embrace your inner Francophile this Bastille Day. (Photo via Flickr user Valerie Hinojosa)
by DCist contributor Evan Caplan
Here in D.C., we have a special connection to our Gallic friends across the pond. The genesis of our urban planning system came from the mind of one Pierre L’Enfant, but we’d still rather have some French food. Luckily, in D.C. we don’t have to choose, so it’s no surprise that Bastille Day is widely celebrated here each July 14.
While the actual holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille Prison in 1789, our own revolutionary fervor tends to extend to raising our glasses of champagne to the cry of “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!” Here are just a few spots where you can embrace your inner Francophile—Joyeux Quatorze Juillet!
A fine French bistro led by a fine French chef, Central Michel Richard (1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW) is hosting a gathering that would please even the most patrician Parisian. The $55 three-course menu being offered on Thursday will feature escargot clafoutis, poulet “basquaise,”, and îles flottantes, accompanied by four hours of 1930s-style French jazz from The Blue Room Jazz Band in the lounge. Partygoers will take sips of unique specialty cocktails and imported wines, served by wait staff sporting decidedly French berets.
The Sofitel Hotel (806 15th Street NW) in Lafayette Square will celebrate the holiday in its aptly named Le Bar. You can nosh on fromage and frites from the happy hour menu from 4 to 7 p.m., but stick around for the quartet that takes the stage after happy hour to dazzle the crowd with strains of gypsy jazz. The best part: entrance is free.
Of course, le grand dame of all Bastille Day celebrations has to be at the Embassy of France (4101 Reservoir Road NW). They’ll be celebrating “the birth of French democracy and the longstanding friendship between the U.S. and France” on Friday, July 15 at a gala highlighting the Bordeaux region’s cuisine and culture, in association with The International Club of D.C. and Comité Tricolore. Look for a sumptuous feast of both traditional French and nouveau cuisines, provided by Académie de Cuisine, L’Hommage Bistro, and Ris Restaurant, among others; Parisian swing music by Avalon Jazz Band; and an open bar. A cautionary note: there’s also a live and silent auction, so go slow on the champagne lest you end up bidding on a château. Tickets range from $110 – $150; purchase them here.
The French spirit can also be found in abundance in some of Northern Virginia’s best French restaurants, with special Bastille Day menus on offer from July 14 through 17. Head to 2941 Restaurant (2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church) for Executive Chef Bertrand Chemel’s three-course prix-fixe menu highlighting fresh summer ingredients in classical French fare, from Salad Niçoise with haricots vert, cherry tomatoes, and olives, to Lapin à la Provençal with housemade tomato raviolini, artichokes, and lemon basil. Don’t miss award-winning Pastry Chef Caitlin DysartR 17;s authentic millefeuille—a mouthful of a word to pronounce, but with a decidedly sweet reward.
In Old Town Alexandria, nowhere could be more appropriate for a proper celebration than Bastille Brasserie & Bar (606 N. Fayette Street, Alexandria), where you’ll find more Bordeaux-inspired delights. Three prix-fixe menus at different price points with optional wine pairings provide something for everyone, such as terrine de foie gras, canard aux pêches, and escargots au pistou. Gâteau au Fromage and an artisanal cheese plate offer both sweet and savory options for ending your meal with true French flair.
