Bastille Day celebrations: Festive Paris parade in 360
Thursday is Bastille Day, and there are myriad ways to celebrate French National Day with food and drink specials around Chicago and the suburbs, from classic bistro fare to creative prix fixe menus. And in "let them eat cake" fashion, there are even free cake and complimentary Champagne offerings. Here"s a selection of delectable ways to mark the French holiday. (The specials take place on Bastille Day (Thursday, July 14), unless noted otherwise.)
La Banque Hotel and La Voute Bistro and Bar (2034 Ridge Road, Homewood, 708-798-6000): From Thursday to July 21, La Voute"s prix fixe menu ($36) features selections such as an heirloom tomato tart with goat cheese and basil, vichyssoise, braised short ribs bourguignon with seasonal roasted vegetables, Provenale bouillabaisse, La Voute opera cake and creme brulee-filled beignets with raspberry sauce. Both the hotel and restaurant are also celebrating their one-year anniversary with additional special deals through the week, including a Champagne brunch Sunday and half off a selection of popular dinner entrees Wednesday.
Bistro Campagne (4518 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-271-6100): Offers a three-course prix fixe menu ($33) with wine pairings ($48) for Bastille Day. Other specials will also be available alongside the regular menu, and a jazz duo will perform. Call for menu details.
Bistronomic (840 N. Wabash Ave., 312-944-8400): Through July 16, chef Martial Noguier offers a history lesson with a three-course gluten-free menu ($36.95) that pays homage to the flour shortage and subsequent rise in price that caused unrest and was a prelude to the French Revolution. Menu items include pate or duck confit as a first course. Main-course choices include a duo of New York steak and beef tartare, Faroe Island salmon or Maple Leaf Farms duck breast, and desserts include poached pear with chocolate sauce or baked Alaska with raspberry sorbet and berries. On Bastille Day, lunch and dinner guests can also enjoy a $17.89-priced bottle of French wine.
Bistro Voltaire (226 W. Chicago Ave., 312-265-0911): The bistro offers a three-course Bastille Day menu ($38) through July 16. First-course options include classic French onion soup, traditional fried frogs legs or one of two salads. There are four main-course offerings, including braised short ribs, sea bass, salmon or rack of lamb. Dessert is a choice of gelato trio, apple tart or chocolate lava cake.
Le Bouchon (1958 N. Damen Ave., 773-862-6600): From Thursday to Saturday, Le Bouchon will feature special dishes, including wild boar pate, sockeye salmon tartare, nectarine gazpacho, quenelles de brochet (pike), rabbit coq au vin, creme caramel and mousse au chocolat.
Cafe des Architectes (Sofitel Chicago, 20 E. Chestnut St., 312-324-4063): A three-course prix fixe dinner menu ($39) combines housemade and local ingredients prepared in a French style, and includes items such as English pea veloute and roasted pork belly with Green City Market vegetables. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary red, white or blue macaron in the lobby.
Chez Moi (2100 N. Halsted St., 773-871-2100): From 1 to 10 p.m., Alsace-born chef Dominique Tougne and Veuve Clicquot join forces for a Champagne bar featuring signature cocktails such as raspberry peach sangrias ($10). There will also be half-priced bottles of wine and a la carte specials, such as escargot persillade ($13) (snails in parsley sauce) and coq au vin ($24). Guests can enjoy live French music on the patio, weather permitting.
La Creperie (2845 N. Clark St., 773-528-9050): A French flag-inspired raspberry-blueberry crepe with creme anglaise ($12) will be offered, and live French music will also be featured.
Kiki"s Bistro (900 N. Franklin St., 312-335-5454): Everyone gets to eat free cake during Kiki"s festive celebration, which also includes a fully costumed Marie Antoinette, 12 French revolutionaries roaming and French accordion music. Special menu items are crafted in an old-school French style, as in the kinds of food that would"ve been eaten during the time period, such as rognons a la moutarde, aka kidneys ($26.75). Other specials include mussels mariniere ($13.50) and leg of lamb with green beans ($26.75). There will also be ros wine bottle specials, such as Chateau Revelette ($40).
Les Nomades (222 E. Ontario St., 312-649-9010): Diners can indulge in a complimentary glass of Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur.
Mon Ami Gabi (2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-348-8886): New executive chef Michael Battocletti has crafted several Bastille Day specials, including chilled fennel and grapefruit soup, Moroccan-style cod and Gabi"s fish and frites.
Retro Bistro (83 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, 815-893-4465; 1746 W. Golf Road, Mount Prospect, 847-439-2424): Both locations celebrate Bastille Day from Thursday to Sunday with an upgraded prix fixe menu and live entertainment. Call for menu details.
La Sardine (111 N. Carpenter St., 312-421-2800): From Thursday through Saturday, La Sardine offers special dishes, including a basket of gougeres, vichyssoise, salade nicoise, filet of sole "Bonne Femme," tournedos Rossini and a floating island dessert.
Suzette"s Creperie (211 W. Front St., Wheaton, 630-462-0898): The annual Grand French Picnic ($35) runs 5-9 p.m. and includes salads, chickpea Provencal, tuna nicoise and charcuterie, along with grilled flank steak, sausages, mussels with mint and curry sauce, and paella. There will also be beignets, French-themed cookies and cake for dessert. Drinks, including blueberry bourbon Bastille Day Punch and ros, will be available for purchase.
Webster"s Wine Bar (2601 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-292-9463): From Thursday to Saturday, all Champagne by the bottle will be 40-percent off. The wine bar has a deep selection of grower-made Champagnes, as well as myriad biodynamic options.
Althea Legaspi is a freelance writer.
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-bastille-day-best-events-chicago-20160713-story.html
