There are many different ways to celebrate Bastille Day. Many people choose to meet with family and friends for dinner and celebrate by enjoying lots of different French dishes together. Yum! In New Orleans, usually, the food eaten on Bastille Day is a mixture of French dishes and traditional New Orlean dishes. Yep, you get the best food of both cultures, lucky you.
So, you’re probably wondering what dishes are usually prepared in New Orleans for Bastille day. Let’s take a look…
1. Pastries
Ok, we all know that French people love their pastries! Every time I envision myself in France, I think about running to the store early in the morning to grab a croissant and coffee before starting my day. It’s very common for Bastille Day celebrations in New Orleans to have an array of pastries for you to enjoy. Such as, crossiants, eclairs, cannelés, macaroons, financiers, crepes, madeleines, creme brulee, brioche, rose des Sables and so much more!
2. Gumbo
Gumbo is an authentic New Orleans dish made with vegetables, dark roux, chicken, sausage. shrimp and served with rice. And yes, it’s absolutely delicious! It’s a popular dish to make for Bastille Day because you can cook it in one big pot in whichever quantities you want. Also, a homemade Gumbo always goes down a treat! You can take our word for it.
3. Rich cheeses
I mean, who doesn’t love cheese? you really can’t go wrong with serving a selection of rich cheeses out with some crackers, bread and chutney. There are many popular types of french cheeses that you are likely to find served at Bastille Day celebrations. Including camebert, brie, epoissess, gaperon, mont d’Or, munster, pont l’Eveque, Saint Nectaire and Bleu de Bress.
4. Jambalaya
Jambalaya is actually very similar to Jumbo and is also an extremely popular dish in New Orleans. It’s made with rice, meat (usually chicken and chorizo), vegetables (peppers, onions, celery etc) and seasoned (garlic, herbs and Cajun spices) very well. It’s safe to say it’s filled to the brim with flavour and deliciousness.
5. French cakes
Again… who doesn’t love cake? Bastille Day will always be filled with yummy goods to satisfy your sweet tooth. There are many popular french cakes that are served. The most popular types include baba au rhum, buche de noel, charlotte, croquebouche, dacquoise, fraiser, gateau and paris-brest.
6. Red Rice and Beans
This is a very popular dish in New Orleans. It sounds very simple but the taste is anything but. In fact, it’s quite a time-consuming recipe but so worth it. The ingredients include red beans (usually left to simmer all day), vegetables, cured pork, sausage, oh and patience! It’s bursting with flavour and you’ll find that families in New Orleans like to enjoy it at least once a week. You won’t blame them after you try it.
7. The New Orleans Muffuletta
Muffuletta is one of New Orleans specialities so if you see it on Bastille Day, you must try. You can find good muffuletta in so many places in New Orleans… they take the recipe very seriously. It’s essentially a deli sandwich with a fresh olive salad made on homemade bread. You can fill it with whatever ingredients you like. Common fillings include olive salad (in them ALL), capicola or deli ham, genoa salami, mortadella, sliced mozzarella and provolone cheese. But many more too!
8. Flamiche
French flamiche is an absolute classic and a very traditional dish. The ingredients include pie crust, milk, leeks, eggs, butter, salt and pepper. It has a delicious and creamy taste that will leave you wanting more. It’s an easy recipe and you’ll find that many French families sit down to enjoy it at least once a week. So it’s a must-try!
