Champagne for Breakfast. But Only If You're King.

Favorite tidbit about France before Bastille Day (July 14, 1789):

The King's breakfast before he went hunting consisted of four chops, a chicken, six eggs poached in meat juice, a cut of ham and a bottle and a half of Champagne.

Favorite tidbit about France after Bastille Day:

The Fête de la Fédération (July 14, 1790) was the most prominent of a series of events to celebrate the new state of France. People feasted for four days, drank way too much wine, and ran naked through the streets to mark their freedom.

Ah, France. What's not to love?

Here are a few ways close to home for you to get in the Bastille Day spirit.


WHAT: Bastille Day Tasting
WHERE: BRIX on Broad, 105 Broad Street, Boston
WHEN: Wednesday, July 14 from 5 to 7 p.m.
COST: $0

WHAT: Une Nuit à Paris (with GREAT music!)
WHERE: The Beehive, 541 Tremont Street, Boston
WHEN: Wednesday, July 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
COST: $20

WHAT: All-Day French-Themed Celebration
WHERE: Petit Robert (Kenmore Square, South End, Needham) and Chez Jacky (Brighton)
WHEN: Wednesday, July 14 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
COST: See menu.


DAILY TIDBIT:

For decades, the Oregon wine industry has been peopled by Francophone winemakers and winery owners. Now, just within the past two years, the tables have turned. Evening Land Vineyards, for example, an Ameri-French operation with a French winemaker and wineries and vineyards in Oregon and California, expanded into Burgundy in 2008. Also, Oregon vintner Scott Wright made his first wines in France in 2008. Wright imports wines from Burgundy in addition to producing his own Scott Paul Wines in Carlton. (Source: The Oregonian)