Viva la France!

Grab your beret and get ready to party — Bastille Day is July 14!

Bastille Day is soon approaching, and even if you're not in France, all you lovely Francophiles can still party like it's 1789. Le quatorze juillet, better known among English speakers as Bastille Day, is a time to come together to commemorate the Storming of the Bastille as well as the Fête de la Fédération, the celebration of the unity of the French nation during the Revolution, in 1790. Between the French military parade down the Champs-Elysées, air shows in the Parisian skies, fireworks shows that light up the Eiffel Tower, and the many festivities in cities around the world, there are plenty of ways to celebrate La Fête Nation.

If you have plans to throw your own soirée to honor the holiday, here's a roundup of delicious Bastille Day dishes. They are just perfect for a lovely meal at home too any night of the week. I hope to encourage you to experiment a bit with the french way …..go frenching yourself so-to-speak! LOL!

Wine and cheese pairings are always a sure way to get your guests to say “Ohh la la”

The great thing about something like a cheese board is that you can make it your own – there is no wrong way to create a cheese board. So it’s super easy because who has time to stress when hosting a fun gathering?!

The concept is simple: Gather 3 or 4 of your favorite french cheeses and then build around them. Choose a variety of salty and sweet snacks to fill in the space between the cheese. It’s great to fill that space with different textures, colors, and flavors. This makes the cheese board more visually appealing and fun to eat. (and photograph) I love to use assorted fruits, olives, and some charcuterie because who does not appreciate salted, cured meats on a cheese board?!

The final component to a cheese board is the actual board or surface on which the items are placed. Surfaces can include a cutting board or serving platter. This is one of those things that’s totally customizable and what makes them unique to you! Just see what you have laying around in your pantry. When we’re talking cheese it doesn’t get any better than cheese from France—what everyone says about French cheese is true – it’s the best. Only the French can turn eating blue cheese and sipping red wine at a cafe into a religious experience. The great news is that you can find fantastic French wine and cheese in the United States. These products are easy to find and affordable as well. I love being able to recreate that French wine and cheese magic at home (even though I definitely wouldn’t mind being in Paris for Bastille Day) Check out my fave cheeses here in a previous post I wrote!

I love incorporating the delish “ meats” for my French Apèro using delicious products from Fabrique Délices ! Fabrique Délices is known to chefs and industry professionals, and their products are enjoyed at bistros, restaurants, hotels, and mostly out of the home. With over 100 different products including All-Natural Pâtés, Mousses, Duck Confit, Magret, Duck Rillettes, Boudins, Sausages, Truffle Butter, Macarons, Cornichons & much more, Fabrique Délices offers the best and the most versatile line of Charcuterie in the United States! Everything is just superb! We especially love the duck salami and the black pepper pâté ! Learn. more about them in this post here and here.

I even love to include chocolate if I have some on hand. ( La Maison du Chocolat has the finest chocolates)

We love making Monte Cristo Sandwich ‘s with Fabrique Délices Jambon De Paris. I mean who can resist a yummy sammy with ham and cheese in a sandwich that is cooked French toast style served with powdered sugar and raspberry jam. It’s a sweet and savory combo that will convert even a skeptic! It’s traditionally made with turkey too but I am not a fan of turkey so I leave that out!

Now for the wine….I recommend having it shipped straight to your doorstep from somMailier. their family and wine experts in France delve into hundreds of handcrafted wines to truly discover the best and most reflective wines of their particular region. somMailier is the only wine club in the US 100% dedicated to French wines (and not just Bordeaux wines but wines from every wine producing region in France including the Rhone Valley, The Loire Valley, Alsace, Provence, Languedoc Roussillon, etc.). You decide whether you want to receive 3 or 6 bottles every shipment (or for a certain number of shipments if for a gift….) So love the idea of a monthly wine club as a gift. It’s something many people may not do for themselves, but would thoroughly enjoy! You then select what type of wines you’d like to receive (reds, whites or a mix). It’s that simple. Read more about my experience in great detail here with the wine I sampled! Please be sure to use my link in the post as I do make a very small commission but most importantly it shows the brand you found them through me!

You can also make a refreshing apéritif with the ROSE ROSÉ from HAUS. This apéritif is like a taste of summer, anytime, with notes of raspberry, rose, and juicy cherries. On the rocks or in a spritz, there’s no wrong way to drink it!

Serve up some yummy French dishes and desserts!

Please see my past articles for these beautiful recipes! I have so many but am also going to be including some new ones here in this post a bit later.

You can make Julia Child’s Cherry Clafouti Recipe. With ample pockets of fruit and a texture somewhere in between a custard, a cake, and a dutch baby, the clafouti (pronounced kla-foo-tee) is a classic French dessert that should be on your radar. It’s also an ideal morning-after breakfast when topped with a dollop of crème fraiche.

Highly recommend the quiche Lorraine with bacon + gruyere recipe as well! This quiche Lorraine recipe yields a rich egg pie and hails from the mountainous region of Lorraine in northern France. Sufficient for a filling meal in itself, quiche Lorraine has been adapted over the years from a humble custard and bacon pie to the substantial cheese, bacon, and egg creation that it is known for today. We enjoyed this for Bastille Day last year actually! It is soooo delicious!

How about a '‘Flamiche aux Poireaux" ?! This is the traditional French name given to this savory tart. This dish originates from the North of France / Belgium. Often simply called a "Flamiche", the full name of this dish includes "Poireaux" which simply means "Leeks" in French. This savory tart does resemble a Leek Quiche, but although this recipe contains Eggs and Cream (the basic Quiche Ingredients), the filling is mainly made from the vegetables and not a custard like a quiche.You will find many different version of this tart, depending on the French and Belgian regions that make it. This recipe is made mainly from Leeks, with the addition of Gruyere Cheese and a small Brown Onion. Simply divine!

Now some would argue it is way too hot outside for soup but I can eat French Onion Soup all year round. I have a slow-cooker recipe and a non slow cooker recipe and they are both truly so fantastic, especially with homemade bread using French Flour.

Chicken Francese isn’t as well known a recipe but the flavors are as special as your favorite French restaurant in my opinion!

WHAT DOES “FRANCESE” MEAN?

It means “French style,” or “the French way,” but what it refers to is chicken fried in a flour mixture and egg wash with citrus juice until golden brown. Chefs aren’t entirely sure where the term originated, but cooking chicken “the French way” certainly makes for a tasty meal.

Chicken Francese is made of chicken breasts rolled in flour and in egg mixture, pan fried and served in a sauce made from white wine, chicken broth and unsalted butter. This is a gourmet dinner without the gourmet wait time; it’s delicious and only takes an hour. This is a chicken dinner that is easy to make and has an elegant name. What is nice about this Chicken Francese recipe is that you can serve it on its own or dress it up or down a bit with additions like parmesan cheese, leaf parsley, lemon slices and kosher salt. Soooo delish!

Love a good salad and this SMOKED DUCK BREAST SALAD I made is just divine!!! Try the Les Trois Petit Cochons Smoked Duck Breast over a bed of greens with apples! It is a healthy and delicious way to eat vegetables. And of course after you get your order from 3pigs.com, there is not much left to do! Just place some mixed greens on a plate. Top with celery, apples, purple onions, cherry tomatoes and drizzle with a herbes de provence salad dressing before serving. Add a tiny bit of salt and pepper too!

Now for some new recipes I have been playing with over the last two weeks that would be wonderful for you to make.

French Potato Salad

This is soooo fab with hamburgers and/or barbecue chicken! The Maille Mustard and the French Cornichons are the stars of the show so make sure to not skip these. They are what makes this a French potato salad!

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds fingerling or small new potatoes, halved (quartered if large)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons Maille Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 small shallot, minced (2 tablespoons)
5 Cornichons chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 small red onion, sliced

DirectionS

Step 1
Place potatoes in a large pot; cover with cold water by 1 inch and season generously with salt. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Run under cold water to cool slightly, then drain.
Step 2
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together oil, mustard, vinegar, shallot, parsley, and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Add potatoes and onion and toss to combine. Serve at room temperature. To store, refrigerate, up to overnight.

Poulet à l’Estragon

Possibly the best chicken recipe in the world, certainly one that's stood the test of time. The faint aniseed flavour of tarragon intensifies the flavour of the poultry, making it both fresh tasting and intensely savoury.

Ingredients

4 chicken leg portions or thighs, or breasts…whatever you have on hand and prefer. We love breast meet but the French love their dark meat.
10 x 15cm sprigs of French tarragon
250ml white wine
3 tbsp crème fraîche
1 tbsp olive oil

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the chicken until browned on both sides.

Transfer the pieces to an ovenproof dish (one that will accommodate them in a single layer). Tip the fat out of the frying pan and pour in the wine. Bring to the boil, stirring well to release all the brown bits from the base of the pan. Pour over the chicken, and tuck in four of the tarragon sprigs.

Transfer the dish to the oven and cook uncovered for 30 mins. Remove the chicken from the dish and keep warm. Tip the juices into a small pan, and spoon off the fat from the top if there seems to be a lot. Bring the juices to simmering point. Stir in the crème fraîche and the rest of the tarragon. Taste and adjust the seasoning and pour over the chicken.

Highly recommend The Wine Braised Chicken with Peaches from the lovely Audrey with Pardon Your French. She is a homecook & food writer, born and bred in Brittany, France. Check out her site devoted to bringing French flavors to your own kitchen. She shares classic recipes, lesser-known regional dishes and a few modern takes. Making French cooking easy, approachable and cliché-free is her priority. Her recipe book is incredible. Grab it here.

Also highly recommend making Jacques Pépin’s favorite pound cake. The French call pound cake quatre-quarts ("four-fourths") because it is made with equal parts flour, sugar, eggs and butter. Jacques Pépin's mother, aunt and cousin all have their versions. He likes to fold in candied citrus peels to make a French fruit cake; he also loves plain slices dipped in espresso. Grab the recipe here. It is the most delightful thing ever and we love making strawberry shortcake with it!

We love making crêpes too and serving them with jam or nutella! Here is the recipe I use!

INGREDIENTS

1 c.
all-purpose flour
2
large eggs
1 tbsp.
granulated sugar
1/4 tsp.
kosher salt
1 1/2 c.
whole milk
1 tbsp.
butter
Fresh fruit, for serving
Powdered sugar, for serving

In a large mixing bowl whisk the flour, sugar and salt until combined. Then create a well with flour and add the eggs. Gradually pour in milk, whisking to combine after each addition. Let batter stand at room temperature until slightly bubbly on top, 15 to 20 minutes. In a small skillet over medium heat, melt butter. About 1/4 cup at a time, drop batter evenly onto pan, swirling it to evenly coat. Cook 2 minutes, then flip and cook 1 minute more. Repeat with remaining batter.

For another sweet treat..make my WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY SWIRL CAKE RECIPE MADE WITH FRENCH FLOUR & FRENCH PRESERVES. It’s made with french flour and french jam and is soooo beautiful and tasty.

I hope one of these recipes inspires you to make something on Bastille Day! Maybe invite a few friends over and introduce them to some french flair too. Remake your maison in all the red, white, and blue decorations the holiday calls for and impress with plentiful Parisian decor if you wish too. Let’s come together to honor our common histories and throw a French fete like no other!!

Linking some super affordable Bastille Day party decor here. Most of is available with Prime.

And you most likely noticed the gorgeous l'Econome by Starck tableware throughout the post ! It is so exquisite and I hope you will read more about it here. From Kitchen tools (L'Econome) to Flatware and now Dinnerware, DEGRENNE Collaboration with famous French designer Philippe Starck got it all covered.

The l'Econome by Starck tableware has been designed to make everyday meals easier. Stackable and versatile, the sets of bowls and helpful plate-lids, go from the refrigerator to the oven, from the oven to the table and the table to the refrigerator. As practical as it is elegant, with its soft colours and satin finish, this innovative concept offers real savings in terms of time and space with less steps to perform.

We have so enjoyed how versatile these are and just love them so much!!!! We really like to keep it easy when it comes to selecting tableware. Timeless pieces that will also sit well together and make it easy to mix and match. I generally let the occasion, company and the menu guide me when I set the table, but you can’t go wrong with these beautiful French pieces . Choosing the right dinnerware set is all about finding the right items to match the tone of how you like to eat and entertain; whether it be formal, casual, traditional, contemporary or outdoors.

The bowls, plates, cutlery and accessories you choose as the dinnerware for your home should strike a balance between style and practicality…would you agree??!!!!

Shop the plates here. Shop the bowls here. Shop the larger salad bowl here. And one other salad bowl here. There are also larger plates if you prefer and you can find those here.

And head to my Instagram on Tuesday July 6th as I am hosting a giveaway with Degrenne so you can win a set of 4 L'Econome by Starck Porcelain 7" dinner plates either in gray or pink !! This cleverly designed porcelain dinnerware collection is inspired by Starck's grandmother, who used to cover her food-laden bowls with plates “to keep the bees and greedy hands away.”