As we know and understand, our city is filled with every nationality and culture you can think of. From the time you walk out your front door until the time you come home, you are in touch with many different tongues, looks and even food. It’s what makes the fabric of New York City. At nearly every corner, you likely have access to cuisines from multiple countries. Pretty awesome of your part of a team that loves to indulge. In July, we get to focus on the French.
Arguably the best cuisine and possibly our favorite, we are pretty psyched to get this party started. The party is Bastille Day. The French National Day is the anniversary of Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a turning point of the French Revolution, as well as the Fête de la Fédération which celebrated the unity of the French people on 14 July 1790. The oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe is held on 14 July on the Champs-Élysées in Paris in front of the President of the Republic, along with other French officials and foreign guests. Not quite what we’ll have in our city but still plenty to do (and eat)!
We’re at a Phase now where we can enjoy some outdoor dining and bistros to celebrate the occasion. French culture is very much alive in New York. Especially in Little Paris. Yes, that is on its way to becoming official. “There is not yet an official French neighborhood in NYC and we feel it’s important for France to be represented in NYC’s urban landscape,” say Léa and Marianne Perret, founders of local French language school Coucou and originators of a new petition to Manhattan’s Community Board 2 to officially designate a nook of Nolita as Little Paris. As we wait for that to happen. Let’s look to a bottle of rose or bubbly or bubbly rose. Maybe pair that with oysters pre-shucked and truffle sandwiches and pretend like they came from La Grande Epiceire.
The point is the day is here and we can start a party. Bonne Fete Nationale!