Bastille Day the Facts and Some Food to Celebrate

Bastille Day is the French national holiday which is celebrated on July 14th of each year. In France, it is called La Fête Nationale. Some simply use the date “le quatorze juillet” when speaking of the holiday. The celebration is still a major holiday as once was Memorial Day or the 4th of July in the United States. No Bastille day would complete without a parade with marching bands, military cadets, aircraft, and speeches. Everyone is out celebrating.

France in the late 1780s was ruled by a greedy and corrupt aristocracy. The country was nearing bankruptcy, the poor had little to no food (remember the “famous” line attributed to Marie Antoinette) and the growing bourgeoisie (middle-class) were growing increasingly powerless. On July 14, 1789, a group of Parisians banned together and stormed the Bastille prison, releasing the seven prisoners inside. The march marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The lasting significance of this event was the recognition that power was not held by the King or God, but by the people. On July 16, King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette fled to Versailles for refuge.

On the 30th of June 1878, a fête was arranged in Paris to honor the French Republic, which was immortalized by Claude Monet in his painting Le Quatorze Juillet. In the debate leading up to instating the holiday, Henri Martin, chairman of the French Senate, his colleagues; "Do not forget that behind this 14 July, where victory of the new era over the ancien régime was bought by fighting, do not forget that after the day of 14 July 1789, there was the day of 14 July 1790. ... This [latter] day cannot be blamed for having shed a drop of blood, for having divided the country. It was the consecration of the unity of France. On May 21, 1880, Benjamin Raspail proposed to have "the Republic choose the 14 July as a yearly national holiday". The law was made official on July 4, 1880. In 1848 the motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" was reinstated.

I remember my first Bastille Day celebration in Paris and looking in awe at the throngs of people both of French heritage and not. Everyone was waving their flags singing and celebrating as the parades went by. The same can be said of my time in NYC in the Meat Packing District. The street was shut down to traffic and the throngs of Manhattanites were lining the street or seating family style outside at tables watching jugglers, performers and drag queens dressed as Marie Antoinette. The place was the now defunct Cafe Florent. French food and wine seemed to be everywhere.

Below is a recipe to bring the “French out in you.” and is a popular picnic sandwich throughout France, especially on the Riviera where the olives and anchovies are divine.

Try the “Tartine de Provence” . It is great for a beach date, a picnic or wherever you will be.

serves 4

Jensen Beach Personal chef

1 baguette

1 clove garlic, cut in half

14-16 pitted black olives, not ones you put on your fingers

1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks

8 oz/225g green string beans, blanched

2 tomatoes, cut into chunks

4 anchovy fillets

2 tbsp/30ml extra virgin olive oil

1 lemon, juiced

¼ tsp/1ml sea salt

¼ tsp/1ml ground black pepper

Cut the baguette in half lengthwise. Rub the cut ends of the garlic over the cut side of the bread for a subtle garlic taste. Place the vegetables and anchovies in a food processor. Pulse to combine (2-3 times) you want it still a bit chunky and not a soup. Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Add vegetables and toss to mix. Spoon the mixture down one length of the bread. Top with the other half. Roll the sandwich up in wax paper or aluminum foil making sure to close the ends. Weight the sandwich down with a board topped with large cans to compress everything together. Leave it for about 1 hour to combine all the flavors. Serve this with some really good rose wine.

Do you Remember Herman? Sourdough Starter and Recipe

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Amish friendship bread, as well as an interchangeable starter referred to as Herman (the name varies), became a popular exchange among friends who shared the starter as well as recipes. Herman Starter Preparation time: 10 minutes Standing time: 5 days Yield: 4 cups 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup warm water 2 packages (2 1/4 teaspoons each) active dry yeast 2 cups each: milk, flour 1. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the warm water. Sprinkle yeast over mixture; set aside until doubled in volume, about 10 minutes. 2. Combine milk, flour, remaining sugar and yeast mixture in a plastic or glass container. (Do not use metal.) Stir with a wooden spoon; cover loosely. Set aside at room temperature, at least 8 hours. 3. Stir mixture once a day for three days. On the fourth day, measure out 1 cup of Herman for baking; measure 1 additional cup to give to a friend as a gift. To replenish starter: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk and 1...

Strawberry Breasts (Fragomammella) Recipe

This 'Two Fat Ladies' recipe is delicious. We did find before pushing the ricotta through the sieve to drain as much as the liquid out of it first. Made for a less runny consistency. Ingredients 1 pound/450g strawberries 1 tablespoon/15ml lemon juice 1 tablespoon/15ml caster sugar (superfine) 1 1/4/510g pounds fresh ricotta 1/4 pint (1/2 cup/120ml/120g) double cream 3 tablespoons/45ml Campari 4 to 5 tablespoons/8g icing sugar (confectioners') Directions Set aside 16 of the smallest strawberries and cut the rest into small pieces. Put in a bowl with the lemon juice and caster sugar and leave to soak for 1 hour. Push the ricotta through the smallest sieve of a mouli, add cream and Campari, mix well. Sieve the icing sugar into the mixture to your own taste, put a third of the mixture aside and mix the strawberries into the remaining ricotta. Prepare pink dessert plates and divide the mixture into 16 breast-shaped molds, 2 for each plate. With a moistened...

The History of Aluminum Foil: Just Don't Call it Tin Foil

Gerard Paul September 11th, 2020 Cookware , Grilling & Outdoors Aluminum foil – sometimes incorrectly called tin foil – is a thin, prepared sheet metal made of aluminum, often used in cooking (and food storage!). Although it may seem a little dull at first glance (especially on its dull side), aluminum foil has quite a fascinating story behind it. Many incredible things occurred before it became a staple in the modern kitchen. In this post, I'll discuss the various events that led to the aluminum foil revolution, and highlight the continued importance of this seemingly mundane material in our lives. Aluminum Foil What Is Aluminum Foil? Aluminum foil is a thin sheet of metal foil or metal leaf composed of an aluminum alloy containing roughly 92–99 percent aluminum. It usually has a thickness between 0.0002 to 0.006 inches, but its width and strength vary greatly based on the intended applicati...

Gluten Free Flourless Chocolate Cake

Ingredients CAKE 170g semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips 113g unsalted butter 149g granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 to 2 teaspoons espresso powder, optional 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional 3 large eggs 43g unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-process preferred GLAZE 170g semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips 113g heavy cream Instructions Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8" round cake pan; cut a piece of parchment to fit, grease it, and lay it in the bottom of the pan. See "tips," below. To make the cake: Put the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat until the butter is melted and the chips are soft. Stir until the chips melt, reheating briefly if necessary. You can also do this over a burner set at very low heat. Transfer the melted chocolate/butter to a mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar, salt, espresso powder, and vanilla. Espresso enhances chocolate's flavor much as vanilla do...

9 Wonderful Benefits Of Pistachios

The health benefits of pistachios include a healthy heart , weight management, protection against diabetes and hypertension, and improved digestion . The vitamins , minerals , fats, and protein found in pistachio are all good for health. What Are Pistachios? Pistachios are one of the oldest edible nuts and are commonly used all over the world. They are native to Asia, particularly Iran and Iraq. Archaeological evidence dates the association of pistachios and man as early as 6,000 BC. They were cultivated in Iran, Iraq, and Syria and were introduced to the Romans only in 100 AD. Today, apart from Iran, Iraq, and Syria, pistachios are being produced in many countries such as the United States, Australia, Turkey, and China, among others. Pistachio nuts belong to the Anacardiaceae family from the genus Pistacia . A pistachio tree takes about 10 to 12 years to produce the first crop. They are d...

Tuna Pasta Salad With Dill Recipe

This flavorful pasta salad is hearty and delicious. If you don't have chopped fresh dill, a few teaspoons of dried dill weed would work as well. It's easy to prepare and makes a good main dish or side dish for summer meals. This is a flavorful pasta salad, perfect for an everyday lunch with soup, or serve it as a side dish at your next cookout. Make this salad with cavatappi pasta, macaroni, rotini, or similar pasta shapes. What You'll Need 8 ounces/225g cavatappi, macaroni, or rotini pasta 1 can (6 to 7 ounces/170-198g) tuna, flaked and drained 3 tablespoons/45ml finely chopped red onion 2 cloves garlic, mashed and finely minced 1/4 cup/60ml finely chopped red bell pepper 3 tablespoons/60 chopped fresh dill 4 teaspoons lemon juice 3/4 to 1 cup/185-250ml mayonnaise 3 tablespoons/45ml sour cream 1/2 to 1 cup/125-250ml sliced grape tomatoes Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste How to Make It Cook the pasta in boil...

Why Chocolate Feels So Good ... It's All Down To Lubrication

Date: January 13, 2023 Source: University of Leeds Summary: Scientists have decoded the physical process that takes place in the mouth when a piece of chocolate is eaten, as it changes from a solid into a smooth emulsion that many people find totally irresistible. By analyzing each of the steps, the interdisciplinary research team hope it will lead to the development of a new generation of luxury chocolates that will have the same feel and texture but will be healthier to consume. During the moments it is in the mouth, the chocolate sensation arises from the way the chocolate is lubricated, either from ingredients in the chocolate itself or from saliva or a combination of the two. Fat plays a key function almost immediately when a piece of chocolate is in contact with the tongue. After that, solid cocoa particles are released and they become important in terms of the tactile sensation, so fat deeper inside the chocolate plays a rather limited role and could be reduced without hav...

Braised Lettuce (Laitues Braises): A Take On Julia Child’s Recipe

You can use almost any lettuce, such as chicory, or frisee, or Boston Bib if you are busing large heads, cut them in half. We made these pescartarian because of the shrimp stock, but vegan is easy with vegetable stock, or if serving with beef, a beef stock and bacon. Braised lettuce is a delicious garnish for poultry, white meats such as veal or pork, or steamed white fish. It can be the main accompanied by a warm sweet potato salad. Serves 4 4 heads Romaine lettuce hearts 4 thick slices of bacon (if making not vegetarian or vegan), cut into lardon strips 1 small onion , diced 2 carrots, diced 1 tablespoon/15g plus 1/2 tablespoon/7 butter divided 1 teaspoon/5ml olive oil 1/2 cup/125ml shrimp or seafood stock (see notes above) 1/2 cup/125ml cup white wine or dry white vermouth bouquet garni: 1 parsley branch, 1 branch of thyme,1 bay leaf tied to a cheesecloth ½ tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon parsley Trim stems of lettuce and ...

Eat Your Organic Orange Peels

By Dr. Mercola Oranges are one of the most popular fruits in the U.S., but very few consume the peel, which is arguably the healthiest part of the whole fruit. Orange peels are rich in flavonoids, like hesperidin and polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), and other phytochemicals, which contribute many of their health benefits. Flavonoids — antioxidant compounds found in certain fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices — are known for their role in helping to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. In addition, orange peel contains higher amounts of certain nutrients than its flesh. For instance, 3.5 ounces of orange peel provides 136 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, while the flesh contains about 71 mg. 1 Orange peel also contains considerable amounts of calcium, copper, magnesium, vitamin A, folate and other B vitamins and dietary fiber. They have an intense orange and bitter flavor, but the latter is often a clue that a food is healthy; the...

Griddle Cake / Pancake Recipe

There are many variations of pancake recipes. There are also many names: griddle cakes or griddle cakes or hot cakes or flapjacks. We are sure that recipes vary some by region, but what is probably more consistent is the use of the various names. we believe "pancake" is the most popular or at least most widely understood name. Ingredients: 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup/125g flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup/260ml milk 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon/5ml melted butter Directions: Sift the dry ingredients. Add the egg and milk and stir gradually to make a smooth batter, add melted butter. Heat and grease lightly a griddle or skillet. Pour the cakes on the hot griddle/flat top. When the cakes are full of bubbles turn with a pancake turner, brown the other side. Grease lightly after each baking. Serve with fresh berries or maple syrup and butter. private chefs and event catering Palm Beach + Boca Raton + Fort Lauderdale + Miami Beach i...

YaDa Chef Private and Personal Chefs

Search This Blog