Le 14 Julliet

Yesterday, the French were our sworn enemy on the pitch. But today, in the face of the US moving onto the World Cup Final, we celebrate our fallen adversary's national holiday. If not for Abby Wambach, we might have to pass on the Bastille Day festivities this year.

New Orleans has always embraced our French heritage, and what better way to pay tribute to the founders of our city than to eat and drink as if you were transported to a quaint restaurant in the Marais, on the docks of Brittany, at a bouchon in Lyon, or on the coast of Provence.

Whether you are inclined for a bubbling plate of escargots or a simple crepe, there is a range of delicious possibilities to satisfy your Gallic hunger. Cafe Degas, Crepe Nanou, and La Provence all come to mind, but if I were dining out today, my first choice would be Chateau du Lac, that underrated bistro on Metairie Road. Sirloin sandwich for the win.

Or you could opt for a replication of what was one of my favorite meals during my summer in France - an impromptu picnic in the Jardin de Luxembourg after a walk through one of the local markets. No reservations required.  All you need is a few wedges of cheese from St. James, a baguette from La Boulangerie or Maple Street Patisserie, maybe a pint or two of olives, a bottle of burgundy, and a couple of dixie cups.

Viva La France.

Winesday

Peter: This wine is intense. Dark color. Strong tannins. Drinking this wine tastes like staring into the abyss, but in a good way. If I had to guess the grape, I would say Petite Sirah. This would go deliciously well with a bittersweet chocolate dessert. Maybe the chocolate decadence cake from Cafe Degas (courtesy of Maurice's) or the molten chocolate cake from Chateau du Lac.

Rene: Big structure to this wine, it cascades from cherry to spice and then a meaty finish. I don't even want to go out to dinner with this wine. No instead, I want a cold January night, some friends, a roaring fire, some leather chairs, a big wheel of blue cheese, some spiced pecans, and hours of conversation. To do so, we would need more than one bottle. There will of course be a hangover in the morning, but it is a price we should all be willing to pay.

Joe the Wine Guy: 2004 Rosenblum Cellars Santa Barbara County Syrah is what you have in your glass. This offering is sourced grapes grown in the warm days and cool evenings of Santa Barbara County. The enticing opaque purple color and room-filling aromas of blackberries, smoke, plum, licorice, and cracked black pepper give way to a lush palate loaded with dark berries, roasted herbs, and black currants. This wine is perfect with roasted meats, pasta in red sauces, and ripe cheeses. It retails for $15 and can be found at Leblanc's and Tsunami.

C'est Magnifique

Y'all already know how much I enjoyed my time in France, so I need not recount the reasons why. But for you other Francophiles out there (or anyone interested in a dry run for a future trip abroad), I suggest you try Chateau du Lac on Metairie Road.

OK, so they use a dry erase board for the daily specials instead of the ubiquitous chalkboard of France. And the prices are a tad higher than those at the bouchons of Lyon. Still, if you enjoy classical French food (read "not Creole"), everything else just fades into the background.

Portions are, for the most part, modest. All the more reason to order an appetizer. We started with a charcuterie plate - all made in house - which included rabbit terrine, pork rilletes, and pate. The petite marmite consisted of scallops and shiitake mushrooms in an intense seafood sauce flavored with tomato and black pepper, the remnants of which is a great dip for the french fries. The classic endive salad with raisins, grapes, pecans and gorgonzola was expertly composed with the perfect balance of ingredients.

I hate to admit this, but my Mom crushed me when it came to ordering entrees. Not that my blanquette de veau was bad, but her choice was so fantastic that it overshadowed everything else on the table. Open-faced sliced sirloin sandwich with sauteed onions and bearnaise. This knife and fork sandwich comes with an accompanying green salad and a basket of french fries for the bargain price of $12. Someone at the next table ordered the cassoulet, which looked equally as scrumptious. But with pork belly, sausage, and duck confit, how can you go wrong?

Have you ever seen the inaugural No Reservations episode in Paris? Tony goes to lunch at Chez Denise and finishes with baba au rhum for dessert. Well, the one at Chateau du Lac is not near as large as the one Tony ate, but it's still fortified with plenty of rum, which you can see pooling as a syrup in the bottom of the dish.

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Just one of many examples of why the French don't suck.

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Chateau du Lac - Birdie