Bastille Day
Bastille Day marks a turning point in French history, the day that sparked the French Revolution. Political corruption and food shortages had brought about vast resentment for the French monarchy by the late 1780s, the poor were starving and the wealthy had grown tired of not being heard. People began to speak out against King Louis XVI and his Queen, Marie-Antoinette, and despite their best efforts to silence everyone, rebellion soon ensued! On July 14th, 1789 the French revolution officially began when Parisian missionaries stormed Bastille. Bastille was a prison in Paris where the King and Queen locked up those that didn’t agree with their decisions, for most a symbol of the corruption within the monarchy. The revolution lasted for ten years and brought about great change, marking a turning point for the French government. Almost 100 years after, July 14th was marked as Bastille Day and a national holiday.
All over the country French locals celebrate on both; Bastille Eve and Bastille Day with fireworks and dancing. This revolutionary day in history seems like the perfect opportunity to celebrate all things French; including exquisite French cuisine, crisp white wines, full bodied reds and of course la Champagne!
To get into the spirit of things we will be turning out private dining room into our very own French Bistro and serving up nothing but the best! We’ve picked some of our favourite French dishes for you to try, some more familiar than others. Check out the Events section of our website for the full menu, but here’s the low-down on those that you may not have heard of…
Quiche Maraîchère – In English, the word maraîchère loosely translates to gardener. This indicates the presence of fresh produce, and in this delicious quiche that’s exactly what you get! Packed to the brim with celery, leeks, carrots and squares of red pepper this quiche is slightly different to your typical quiche with the cheese served on top of it, not inside it. It makes for a brilliant vegetarian option, though will be enjoyed equally as much by meat-eaters!
Onglet Steak – The Onglet steak is also known as the ‘butcher’s steak’, because the butchers would keep it for themselves rather than selling it! This really highlights how delicious this cut is, full of flavour from the diaphragm of the cow it is one not to be missed by steak lovers!
Valhrona Chocolate Fondant – We know that a chocolate fondant isn’t an alien concept to anyone, however the source our chocolate, Valhrona may be. Valhrona is a premium chocolate manufacturer based in the small town of Tain-l’Hermitage. Situated in a wine-growing district near Lyon, Valhrona focuses on producing high-grade luxury chocolate, perfect for our decadent fondue!
Now that the history lesson is over and we are sure to have your taste buds tingling and your stomach’s rumbling make sure you book your place for our Bastille Day so as to not miss out on this historical celebration! Simply book online or call the pub on 01926 359960.
Bon Nuit!
