A LA CARTE : BASTILLE DAY.Byline: Larry Lipson The celebration of the storming of the Bastille The Storming of the Bastille in Paris occurred on 14 July 1789. While the medieval fortress and prison known as the Bastille contained only seven prisoners, its fall was the flashpoint of the French Revolution and it subsequently become an icon of the French Republic. in 1789 is, to the French, almost the equivalent of our Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. . Consequently, local French restaurants, or those with an affinity for things French, especially la cuisine, do special things on or around Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14. Here are a few restaurants where Bastille celebrations are worth consideration: Bistro 45 Address: 45 S. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. Phone: (626) 795-2478. Menu: Repeat of the Bastille celebration family-style prix-fixe dinner is planned for Monday, not Wednesday, this year. One seating at 6 p.m. with duck rillettes Rillettes (French for "planks") is a preparation of meat similar to pâté. Originally made with pork, the meat is cubed or chopped, salted heavily and cooked slowly in fat until it is tender enough to be easily shredded, and then cooled with enough of the fat to form a paste. on arrival followed by platters including crispy calamari, leg of lamb, grilled sausages, chicken provencale, steamed mussels, grilled vegetables, pommes frites and assorted desserts. Price: $35 (includes all wines, beers, food, tax and tip). Miscellaneous: Festive decorations. Live entertainment. Casual attire welcome. The Grill Address: Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel, 1401 S. Oak Knoll, Pasadena. Phone: (626) 577-2867. Menu: Five-course, prix-fixe dinner (fava bean soup, seared frog legs with chanterelles, foie gras-stuffed saddle of rabbit, red mullet with black olive compote and honey and lavender nougat nou·gat n. A confection made from a sugar or honey paste into which nuts are mixed. [French, from Provençal, from nougo, nut, from Old Provençal noga, from Vulgar Latin ) is complemented by appropriate French wines chosen by sommelier Elizabeth Schweitzer. Price: $95. Miscellaneous: Attendees are encouraged to dress in red, white and blue. Le Chardonnay Address: 8284 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. Phone: (323) 655-8880. Menu: Four-course prix-fixe consists of terrine maison, seasonal salad, a choice of rotisserie chicken or grilled lamb cutlets with pommes frites, profiterole pro·fit·er·ole n. A small round cream puff. [French, perhaps diminutive of profiter, to profit, from Old French, from profit, profit; see profit. . Price: $25. Miscellaneous: Served from 6 to 10 p.m. with regular menu. French music throughout the evening. Le Petit Chateau Address: 4615 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Phone: (818) 769-1812. Menu: Three-course prix-fixe dinner begins with soup or salad and offers a choice of six entrees (veal with mustard sauce, breast of chicken with olives and feta cheese in chardonnay sauce, salmon with asparagus sauce, duckling with bing cherry sauce, penne pasta with rock shrimps, nut-crusted Idaho trout en croute) and either poached pear belle Helene or flan (creme caramel) plus coffee. Price: $21.95. Miscellaneous: Regular menu available. Served from Monday through Thursday. Le Sanglier Address: 5522 Crebs Ave., Tarzana. Phone: (818) 345-0470. Menu: Three-course prix-fixe meal includes a choice of a dozen appetizers, 14 entrees, some being game dishes like wild boar chops and venison, and a choice of several desserts. Price: $31.95 or $36.95. Miscellaneous: Regular menu and blackboard specials available. Mimosa Address: 8009 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Phone: (323) 655-8895. Menu: Three-course prix-fixe starts with either pike quenelle que·nelle n. A ball or dumpling of finely chopped meat or seafood bound with eggs and poached in stock or water. [French, from German Knödel, from Middle High German, diminutive of knode with lobster coulis cou·lis n. A thick sauce made of puréed fruit or vegetables: raspberry coulis. [French, strained liquid, from Old French couleis, from Vulgar Latin or a warm potato and marinated smoked herring salad. Entrees are coq au vin coq au vin n. A dish of chicken cooked in red wine. [French : coq, chicken + à, with + vin, wine.] Noun 1. or roasted New Zealand snapper. Desserts are chocolate profiteroles or apple tarte tatin. Price: $35. Miscellaneous: Music, dance and regular menu. Wine Bistro Address: 11915 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. Phone: (818) 766-6233. Menu: Three-course prix-fixe includes a choice of eight starters (bistro salad, asparagus vinaigrette, pate, scampi, escargots, frog legs, onion soup, vichyssoise vi·chys·soise n. A thick creamy potato soup flavored with leeks and onions, usually served cold. [French, from feminine of vichyssois, of Vichy.] Noun 1. ), one of nine entrees (salmon, sole, whitefish, bouillabaisse, duck a l'orange, New York steak frites, coq au vin with pasta, rack of lamb Noun 1. rack of lamb - a roast of the rib section of lamb crown roast rack - rib section of a forequarter of veal or pork or especially lamb or mutton lamb roast, roast lamb - a cut of lamb suitable for roasting , flank steak in cognac) and dessert maison. Price: $29.95. Miscellaneous: Party atmosphere. Raffles. French music. |
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