Celebrate Bastille Day with French food and drink

Food, drinks, and fireworks in July aren’t limited to the United States. Ten days after America’s Independence Day, the French also have their own red, white and blue holiday. Called Bastille Day by English speakers, the day is known to the French as “La Fête Nationale,” and it celebrates the anniversary of the liberation of France marked by the storming of the medieval Bastille prison on 14 July 1789.

The holiday provides the perfect excuse (like we need any) to make delicious French food and celebrate liberté, égalité, and fraternité. Australian Gourmet Traveller provides us with several of their favorite French recipes to get us started, and of course the EYB Library contains a multitude of options including over 14,000 French recipes available online to help you celebrate as well. Here are a few Member favorites:

• Ratatouille (Eggplant casserole) from Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volumes I & II by  Julia Child and Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck
• Mushroom Bourguignon from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman
• Young onion tart with Cantal, applewood-smoked bacon, and herb salad from Sunday Suppers at Lucques by Suzanne Goin and Teri Gelber
• Coq au Riesling from Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson
• Marie-Hélène’s apple cake from Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan
• Potato gratin forestiere from Los Angeles Times by  Daniel Boulud and Dorie Greenspan
• Chicken with mustard (Poulet à la moutarde) from My Paris Kitchen by David Lebovitz
• Creamy tomato bisque from Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten
• Fromage fort from The Splendid Table by Jacques Pépin
• Gâteau Opéra from Chocolat by Eric Lanlard
• Cherry clafoutis from Tartelette by Hélène Dujardin (pictured above)