Saturday July 14th is Bastille Day, and it’s just around the corner. You’d best get ready to unpack your berets and stinky cheeses in honor of the other red, white, and blue. It’s a great excuse to raise a glass of French wine to liberté, egalité, fraternité and, of course, eat some wonderful treats. Here are some local happenings where you can fête in style.
If you want to start your Bastille Day celebration un peu early, ~RN74~ will be hosting a party a day in advance, on Friday July 13th. To celebrate, they will be serving a special menu of one-dollar items, including oysters and pastries. There will also be entertainment in the form of acrobats, contortionists, and accordion players. Entrance to the party is free. Feeling très chic? Arrive in Parisian costume (does just holding a cigarette count?) and you’ll receive a free drink ticket for their special Bastille Day cocktail. Friday July 13th, 3pm-10pm.
CAFÉ DE LA PRESSE will be serving classic French dinner dishes on Bastille Day, including duck confit and boeuf bourguignon. They will also be serving brunch during the day, so you can start your day off right with a croque madame or monsieur. Brunch 8am-4:30pm, dinner 5:30pm-10pm. 352 Grant Ave. at Bush, 415-398-2680.
~CAFÉ DES AMIS~ will also be serving some classic French goodies at prices that won’t lead to revolution. There will be wine, beer, and bar food specials all day, as well as happy hour specials including one dollar oysters and ten dollar charcuterie plates. Open 10am-11pm.
~THE GRAND CAFÉ~ will be holding Bastille Day celebrations on both Friday July 13th and Saturday July 14th. On each evening, “Marie Antoinette” will arrive at 5:30pm and, that’s right, she will let you eat cake by passing out cupcakes to all attendees. She will also be serving glasses of wine. If you wear a beret or moustache on Saturday, you will receive a glass of Champagne on the house, too. In addition to the regular dinner menu, they will be serving special dishes including seafood cassoulet and fig leaf-wrapped sardines. Both days the festivities kick off at 5:30pm, and dinner served until 11pm, bar open until midnight.
Newcomer BISTRO UNIQUE in Cow Hollow will be celebrating the holiday with their classic bistro fare, as well as a French chanteuse to serenade you as you enjoy your salade niçoise and glass of wine. They will also be featuring photographer Frederic Tarmis’ Parisian street scenes for added Frenchie ambiance. Brunch 10:30am-3pm, dinner 5:30pm-10:30pm. 1849 Union St. at Octavia, 415-218-4136.
What could be more French than Wine Country? Actually, a trip to the Napa Valley might be a little cheeky, but all the more reason to go for it. BOUCHON in Yountville will be holding their twelfth annual Bastille Day party, with some exciting treats like whole roasted pig and lamb, an oyster bar, and a crêpe station, in the reasonable price price range of two to six dollars. There will also be face painting, live music, and wine and beer. Bouchon Bistro will be open 11am-midnight, and reservations are recommended. Guests can pre-purchase tickets for food and drink at the Bouchon host stand starting July 6th. 6534 Washington St at Yount, Yountville, 707-944-8037.
Didn’t get enough delicious French food in your belly on Bastille Day proper? Never fear, ~JARDINIÈRE~ is hosting a special three-course dinner on Monday July 16th. The menu features cassoulet, éclairs, and French wine pairings, all for a cool $49, wine included.
Flickr photo from Euthman.
Event Info
Friday Jul 13, 2012 – Sunday Jul 15, 2012
