CELEBRATE: BASTILLE DAY
Friday July 14th
Raise a glass with our French brothers & sisters on this most important day in the Calendar de France: Bastille Day. The day commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14th, 1789. There are celebrations around the Bat at all manner of French restaurants. See my faves below.
EAT HERE: LA SOCIETÈ CAFE
La Societe Cafe on 3rd near market with rock star French Chef Alex Viriot is a must visit for Bastille Day. The bar opens early and dinner is served from 5pm. Among my fave dishes:
- Duck liver mousse
- Escargot in garlic-chartreuse butter
- Moules & frites; mussels if you will, in a terribly tasty saffron sauce.
- Onion soup gratineé
- Salt cod beignets
Treat yourself for an intimate dinner for two, a family or group gathering or a solo hang at the bar. La Societe Cafe in SF at the Hyatt downtown. Dinner operates 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Here is my interview La Société Cafe’s Chef Alex Viriot:
MAIS OUI: REVE BISTRO
“A little Paris in the hood?” Do yourself a favor and venture to “Reve Bistro” in Lafayette for as real & authentic a taste of France as you’ll ever find the other side of the Bay Bridge. Chef Magu brings passion, heart and a lot of soul to every tasty dish he serves. Among my faves:
+ onion soup with Gruyère
+ duck breast with a cherry gastrique
+ fig crème brûlée
Pair your meal with a vino treat from their cellar or dreamy, world class French wines.
Don’t leave without trying their house made macaroons. Dinner operates Tuesday - Saturday, 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
BRASSERIE: LEFT BANK
Left Bank Brasserie in Oakland is the newest in a group of authentic Parisian-style brasseries by Chef Roland Passot. They pay homage to the joie de vivre that is synonymous with the Left Bank neighborhood in Paris. Guests are invited to step into French culture, in a vibrant, social atmosphere that captures all the charm of traditional brasseries and iconic alfresco dining of France. Themes Bastille Cocktails and fancy French wines will flow all day and all weekend at the various Left Bank locations: Larkspur, Oakland and Tiburon.
BISTRO: ONE 65
ONE65’s Chef Claude Le Tohic has announced the reopening of The Bistro at ONE65. Guests can again stop by the third floor and now enjoy the engagingly revamped space where perfected fan-favorite dishes comprise the three new prix fixe dinner menu options that showcase local, seasonal California/French “comfort” food minimally prepared to allow the ingredients to shine. Enjoy a two-course experience priced at $70, a three-course at $95 and a five-course for $170. All menus include bread and butter service and mignardise and there is also a “finger aperitifs” small bites menu. Dinner operates Tuesday - Saturday 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
STERN GROVE FESTIVAL: ANJELIQUE KIDJO
Free music from the Stern Grove Festival continues this Sunday at 2 p.m. with Anhelique Kidjo and her mix of Afrobeats, Afro-pop, hip hop and r&b. It’s show 5 of 10 Free concerts at the Grove this Summer. See the rest of the incredible Season 86 line up and make your Resy online via the Stern Grove website.
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