That was today, wasn't it! Isn't the Tour de France usually going on (back when thing were normal)? I miss the beauty shots of the French countryside.

Thank you! Today is significant for me because it's my honorary grandson's birthday, as well as Bastille Day. He is 16 years old today--where has the time gone?

"Did read into Thomas Jefferson's history. He was responsible to have brought French food to US."

Sorry, that's not a very believable comment. No matter if he had learned and developed loves of favorite things in France and "brought" back French recipes and techniques from his stay there.

Maybe he "brought" some favorites with him that he enjoyed in his home life. Was it enough to describe his influence as being significant? Had he brought Bordeaux and Burgundy wine back for his personal use, I'm not sure what would be meant to say "he brought French wine to the US".

There have been simply too many tens of millions of immigrants, travelers, multinational influences and famous chefs and other practitioners (of whom Julia Child may be the most notable in the 20th century) to be able to isolate on someone from over 200 years ago.

RRRRRRRRRRRR!

Behind the Founding Foodie, A French-Trained Chef Bound by Slavery

Bastille Day Fireworks

Thanks for the reminder. I saw this last night and texted a "happy anniversary" to my friend.

Thomas Jefferson's relationship with French cuisine is well documented. Makes very interesting reading.

So, did Jefferson introduce French Fries to the US?

dcarch

Perhaps Jefferson made French dining fashionable.

"Perhaps Jefferson made French dining fashionable."

There was little or no "fine dining" at the time. Check your history.

The economic disparity that existed at the time of independence was huge The privileged class was quite small. In Jefferson's time, in addition to the large slave population, there were large numbers of people serving out contracts of indentured servitude - essentially, contractual slaves for a fixed period of time. The vast majority of the colonists and early residents of the new country were small time farmers who were happy to have enough food to eat. And didn't always have that.

Few "dined" or ate anything other than plain food, food reflecting the agrarian class food traditions of the areas of England most came from.

You know, the French don't celebrate the storming of the Bastille at all. We have a lovely day off work. There's the parade in Paris, but France isn't Paris so for the rest of us.....

Ci_lantro, fascinating article.

Yes, that was a very interesting (and sad) article--thanks for posting.

"Islay Corbel

You know, the French don't celebrate the storming of the Bastille at all.----"

We here in NYC do.

The most memorable one was the year The French won the World Cup. It was a MAD! MAD! MAD! day!.

I was with friends inside FIAF (French Institute Alliance Française). Streets around the FIAF were closed for the celebration. Things got totally crazy, The World Cup was being broadcast live and the French won. The French ambassador and his wife were there, we sang

" Allons enfants de la Patrie

Le jour de gloire est arrivé

Contre nous de la tyrannie

--------------------------

------------------------"

many times.

I had the best video taken from the top floor of FIAF, an arial view of the madness on the streets. I can't post the video here, it's like more than two hours long.

dcarch

Some people need little excuse to "celebrate". Look no further than St Patrick's Day, more widely commemorated in the US than in Ireland.

No harm done but what's done in NY and other US cities shouldn't be viewed as necessarily an indication of the what's done in the source location.

I was in the area of Lyon, France 20 years ago on Bastille day. They were certainly celebrating something!

We usually have fireworks but not this year.