Posted on Thursday, 23ʳᵈ June, 2022
Create a French-flavoured meal event and bring out everybody’s inner Francophile at your Aged Care facility this Bastille Day.
Bastille Day or La Fête Nationale as it is known in France is celebrated on July 14th by expats and countries all over the world. It officially marks the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a major event of the French Revolution but has evolved into a festival of all things French.
The occasion provides an alternative to Christmas in July or can be taken note of in addition to a more traditional wintertime feast.
There are plenty of ways to do things French-style at your aged care facility this Bastille Day, especially when it comes to food. The French love to eat at any time of day so you can plan your Bastille Day event around any main or mid-meal!
The French flag is red, white and blue so decorate your ‘Café de Paris’ dining room with streamers and balloons in this colour.
You can also conjure up images of Paris with Eiffel Tower cutouts and red gingham/check tablecloths. Berets and cat’s eyeglasses make for amusing props. Have some fun with menus incorporating French words, many of which are anyway used daily in Australia.
The other emblem of France is the Fleur-de-Lis, which has roots in the French revolution. Explore ways to incorporate this graphic in your decorations by using flags or table ornaments.
If you want to play music, some of the best-known French language ‘chanteurs’ include:
- Céline Dion (French Canadian, but close enough)
- Édith Piaf
- Francis Cabrel
- Maurice Chevalier
Here is a French Jazz Cafe playlist from Spotify to save you from playing DJ.
Serve a diverse menu of French ‘cuisine’, without going to Julia Childs levels of effort.
‘Egg pie’ is so ubiquitous it could almost be considered Australian. The added advantage of this French food is that it is soft and easy to eat.
There is no shortage of combinations for a tasty quiche, from a traditional Lorraine with ham to something more interesting which incorporates vegetables such as zucchini and corn. These days, it’s easy to create a tasty pastry base without starting from scratch.
How very French! Beef Burgundy is rich, tasty and easy to prepare. It is delicious served with mashed potatoes and steamed greens.
Chicken Chasseur is a flavourful hotpot. Add a herb crumble made from toasted bread crumbs and up the taste factor with some garlic puree. C’est magnifique!
The French are celebrated for their delicious desserts and pastries, so a Bastille Day meal gives everyone something to look forward to.
For this sweet treat, use longer eclair cases or ready-made profiteroles and offer a selection of chocolate mousse, cream or custard filling. Don’t forget the chocolate topping!
Adding lavender brings a twist to a French favourite. You only need a few fresh flowers to add to your mixture to bring out the lavender flavour.
Our recommendation is to use a Carte d’Or Pannacotta Dessert Mix and some crumbed Arnott’s Nice biscuits to prepare a French-style cheesecake. Serve with a fresh or pureed fruit topping for an extra extravagance.
Finally, you might wish to add a drop or two of ‘Champagne’ or a non-alcoholic ‘French’ wine to the tables, as a lovely touch for the occasion.
