On July 14, 1789, French revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress and prison, an early incident in the French Revolution. And after a whole bunch of other events that Wikipedia can do a better job of explaining than I can, in 1793 Louis XVI was beheaded, 13 years after our city had been named in his honor.
Of course, as with all foreign country's holidays, the best way to celebrate Bastille Day is by gorging yourself on French cuisine.
So you'd think restaurants in world-class Louisville would be having Bastille Day specials -- at least that's what I thought when I wrote the previous two paragraphs before doing any research on this piece (the best columnists write their leads first and find facts to support them later).
Apparently Louisville's French connection starts with Paris being paid to attend the Barnstable Brown Party and ends with her being paid to attend the Barnstable Brown Party after-party: I found no Bastille Day celebrations here.
Some place called "Indiana" (pronounced ˌindēˈanə), however, is picking up the slack. It's not in The Highlands, so I don't get there much. But it's close and -- unlike a city with fleur-de-lis in its official seal for dieu's sake -- is celebrating French independence.
Jefffersonville Bristol
700 West Riverside Drive Jeffersonville
812-218-1995
July 13-19
Celebrate Bastille Day all week with this waterfront restaurant's special French-inspired menu and wine list (apparently the French are known to consume wine: who knew?). Among his selections, Master Sommelier Scott Harper, Bristol's corporate wine and beverage director (my fraternity had a similar position; we called it treasurer) has assembled wine flights of four 2-ounce pours for $8.
Bank Street Brewhouse
15 Bank St, New Albany
812-725-9585
July 14
Bank Street Brewhouse is hosting what looks to be (and has been in the past) a fantastic five-course, fixed-price (service included) French meal for Bastille Day. There'll also be a selection of French beers, which ne suck pas. Save $5 (a dollar for each French Republic) by répondez s'il vous plaîting ahead of time.
For more information: While Louisville doesn't have much to offer for Bastille Day, it did just remedy its jazz deficiency with the opening of Jazzyblu.
(Photo: Zach Everson)
