Bastille Day 2021: Celebrate with French cuisine, wine, recipes and more

Today marks Bastille Day – an annual French festival that celebrates the storming of the Bastille, a military fortress, in 1789 by angry Parisian crowds.

The moment played an important role in the revolution and it is celebrated every year with parties, fireworks and parades.

Last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, traditional celebrations, including the military parade on the Champs-Élysées, were reduced, but this July 14 staple will be back for 2021, with more than 25,000 people able to attend. observe it.

If you too want to mark the holidays, we have what you need. We have found the best in French food and drink to celebrate with you.

Whether you’re planning a dinner party, picnic, or even celebrating the occasion on your own, indulge yourself this year with these French delicacies, from fine wines to fine desserts.

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Wine

As for wine, it is in the south of France that you will find us sipping a Côtes de Provence rosé.

The pale pink tip uses Grenache as the dominant grape with hints of Cinsault, Syrah and Carignan and perhaps a pinch of Mourvèdre or Rolle.

In our guide to the best Côtes de Provence rosés, we loved Mirabeau etoile rosé 2019 (£ 15, Sainsburys.co.uk).

Our reviewer was impressed with its Provencal quality for the low price, adding that “the Grenache-dominant star is full of freshness, with hints of citrus and apricot”.

If you prefer a bottle of white, try the 2019 Vasse Felix ‘filius’ Chardonnay (£ 12.99, Majestic.co.uk), which took first place in our review of the best chardonnays.

“Full-bodied with complex spicy flavors of tropical fruit – think vanilla and grilled ginger pineapple – it has freshness and lift nonetheless, dancing lightly on the palate and the alcohol is restrained,” said our review. It is also easy to pair with any type of fish, white meat or salad.

For a summer classic, we recommend the Minuty prestige 2019 (£ 19.99, Majestic.co.uk). “This wine is pure class. Pale as a sheet, and with a minimalist and refined bottle, it nails the Provencal aesthetic of the manual; it wouldn’t seem out of place at a beach club in Saint Tropez or Cannes, ”said our tester.

We’ve found the £ 20 bottle to be a worthwhile investment if you want to see all the elegance that southern France rosés can have.

Cheese

From brie to camembert, the French know their cheeses. If you’re looking to expand your palette, sign up for a subscription box that will deliver a handpicked selection to you each month.

We were impressed with The Fine Cheese Co.’s monthly cheese subscription (£ 108, Finecheese.co.uk) which includes four decently sized cheeses, a box of gourmet crackers and a great booklet with space for your own tasting notes. .

Winning first place in our Best Boxes review, our delivery contained the ‘deeply flavored lady’s gray goat’s milk, a classic French fourme d’ame, a rich, ice-cream-like Italian tur and a silky old roan. , the only raw milk wensleydale actually made in Wensleydale itself ”.

We were also impressed with the subscription to the Macknade Cheese Experience (£ 50, Macknade.com) with our box containing all French cheeses including classic Brie, spicy Roquefort, Zingy Comté and light goat cheese. and creamy that made you dream in a salad. They were accompanied by delicious chive and olive oil crackers and an Italian mostarda made with black figs, making it an indulgent treat.

macarons

Macaroons are synonymous with France and are a sweet treat that you can enjoy anytime.

They also make cute gifts, like this Napoleon III gift box (£ 22.50, Laduree.co.uk) that you can treat yourself or someone else.

You can hand pick eight macarons and the flavors range from pistachio and orange blossom to caramel banana.

Cookbooks

If you want to master the art of French cuisine, look no further than Rick Stein’s Rick Stein’s Secret France (£ 18.69, Hive.co.uk) which accompanies the popular cook TV show of the same name. “From the perfect croque monsieur to buckwheat pancakes with mushrooms and eggs, we’ve found most of the ingredients listed easy to get, and Rick’s writing style is a joy to follow,” said our reviewer.

When it comes to vintage French cookbooks, Richard Olney reigns supreme. The French menu cookbook (£ 12.99, Blackwells.co.uk) was previously voted ‘Best Cookbook of All Time’ by The Observer Food Monthly Awards and, despite its first release in 1970, it still has a legion of fans today. ‘hui.

The 150 recipes are centered on the flavors of Provence and the book also offers 32 menus which bring together dishes for various occasions. “Expect simple dishes like scrambled eggs with truffles, Normandy pancakes (with apple and brandy) and lamb stew,” said our reviewer.

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