8 French favourites to celebrate Bastille Day

France has earned a reputation as a gastronomical capital of the world for a reason: from gooey Brie and moreish boeuf Bourguignon to sweet apple galettes and buttery croissants, the food landscape of the country is certainly something to celebrate. What better day to do so than Bastille Day! Celebrated annually on 14 July, this fête nationale observes the storming of the Bastille, a turning point in the French Revolution of 1790.

Today, why not transport your tastebuds to a French bistro with one of these simple yet sophisticated dishes.

Baked Brie pastry parcel

Golden puff pastry is the perfect wrapping for this melt-in-your-mouth Brie. Perfect for scooping with lightly toasted baguette slices.

Leek and gruyère tart

An impressive tart that is surprisingly simple to make! Try it for a brunch with friends or as an elegant dinner with a side salad.

Lemony crêpes Suzette

There’s no need to wait for Pancake Tuesday to treat yourself to a stack of crêpes! This twist on the traditional orange-infused crêpes Suzette incorporates zesty lemons.

Fillet steaks with café de Paris butter

Steak frites is a classic French bistro staple. Try your own at home with this herb-infused compound butter to top it off.

Coq au vin

A velvety mélange of slow-cooked chicken, mushrooms and onion in a velvety red wine sauce, this is the perfect stew to try if you’re new to French cuisine.

Croque monsiuer

The French may have outdone us when it comes to the cheese toastie with this one: ham and cheese are sandwiched together, then topped with a rich béchamel sauce. To make it a croque madame, add a fried egg over the top.

French onion soup

This traditional soup can be found on bistro menus across Paris, and for good reason: slow-cooked onions add depth of flavour to a beefy broth, then topped with crusty croutons and and melted cheese. Talk about comfort food!

Salade Niçoise with fresh tuna

Take a trip to Nice on the sunny French Riviera with this light and flavourful salad of seared tuna, baby potatoes, olives, fresh greens and onions, all tossed in a tangy vinaigrette.

Tartiflette

Hailing from the Savoy region in the French Alps, this après ski dish of layered potatoes, cheese, pancetta and cream will warm you right up.

Boeuf Bourguignon

This rich beef stew has deep layers of flavour from seared rashers, slow-simmered beef, fresh herbs, red wine and hearty vegetables. Try it over garlic mashed potatoes for a decadent and simple weekend meal.

The French have perfected the dessert scene: from luxurious crème caramel and airy macarons to crisp apple tart and multi-layered pastry creations, we could create countless recipe compilations in ode to their regional sweet treats (and we just might!). We’ve decided to highlight a global and versatile favourite: the humble but exquisite éclair.