The Dish: Palm Beach restaurants plan French-inspired specials for Bastille Day
To fête one of France’s most widely hailed national holidays, some Palm Beach restaurants plan to serve très magnifique food and drink.
The July 14 holiday (known as Bastille Day in English-speaking countries) commemorates the 1789 storming of the Bastille, as well as France’s 1790 unification.
On Thursday, some restaurants on the island will serve specials inspired by French cuisi in addition to their regular menus.
Bastille Day “is always a favorite,” Le Bilboquet operations director Dobi Trendafilova said. The restaurant will offer guests a special amuse-bouche — a complimentary small dish — at the start of their lunch and/or dinner.
With three canapes with red, white and blue hues (like the French flag), the amuse-bouche will feature foie gras with crispy vitelotte and blueberry chutney, a cheese gougère and a taste of heirloom-tomato gazpacho.
The trio of bites “pays homage to France,” said Le Bilboquet Group’s executive chef Camille Martin.
At Café Boulud, a special four-course dinner will be served and paired with French wines chosen by sommelier Imre Papp.
Advance reservations are required for the event, which is $165 a person. It starts with a 6:45 p.m. reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
Avocado with crab and citrus will be served at the reception along with Heidsieck Monopole, Reims, Champagne Extra-Dry MV.
The dinner menu by executive chef Dieter Samijn and head pastry chef Julie Franceschini starts with tomato antiboise with bluefin tuna and egg mimosa.
Domain Font-Mars, Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussilon 2021 will be paired with that first course.
Bouillabaisse is planned for the second course, served with J. Denuziere, Saint-Peray, Rhōne Valley 2019.
The third course will be grilled seabass with pommes Anna and ratatouille, paired with Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, Beaujolais 2020.
Crepe Suzette with Grand Marnier and vanilla ice cream is slated for dessert. It will be served with Domaine Paul Jaboulet `'Les Chant de Griolles,'’ Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2020.
Elsewhere in town, La Goulue is set to feature a special French-inspired menu on Bastille Day.
On executive chef Fernando Marulanda's menu: vichyssoise ($18), trout ($36) with almond, cream and haricots verts, and berry mille feuille with huckleberry gastrique ($14).
Meanwhile, Café L’Europe has planned a la carte specials for July 14.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach restaurants plan specials for Bastille Day
