Bastille Day

Today is Bastille Day, the French national holiday, and since it’s a summer day off in France, people celebrate with a picnic or outdoor party before watching fireworks. Make ratatouille, the popular slow-simmered vegetable stew originally from the south of France. The dish glorifies summer produce and is easy to prepare for a crowd. Across France, most cooks have a recipe for ratatouille. I like to cook the main ingredients — eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers — separately, then add tomatoes and herbs before simmering to blend the flavors and let the cooking juices intensify.

On July 14, 1789 French revolutionaries in Paris stormed the Bastille to end the monarchy. Feudalism was abolished and the rights of man restored. What does this mean for us Americans? Another excuse to raise a toast to summer in the city. Whether you're a Francophile, an expat, or just someone with a penchant for rosé and escargot, there's no shortage of places in Boston to feel French this year. Dancing in the street Since 1975, the French Cultural Center has been holding the biggest bash in the city, with dancing in the street, good wine, great music, and bonhomie.

PARIS - President Nicolas Sarkozy opened the traditional Bastille Day military parade to Indian and German troops yesterday, as France looks to expand its global military influence and strengthen strategic partnerships. French forces marched with precision down the Champs-Elysees along with Indian troops in colorful uniforms and German soldiers in sober dress. The annual holiday parade marks the July 14, 1789, storming of the Bastille prison in eastern Paris that helped spark the French Revolution.

WELLFLEET — Along a stretch of Route 6 dotted with saltbox cottages and eateries serving lobster rolls and broiled scallops, sits a slightly out-of-place French bakery and restaurant. PB Boulangerie Bistro was opened in April by French natives Philippe Rispoli, 37, and Boris Villatte, 31 (PB is for their first names). The bakery sells close to 250 baguettes and 1,500 plain, chocolate, and almond croissants each day; dozens more loaves such as fig, olive, sourdough, multigrain, and brioche; sublime croque monsieurs, and assorted charcuterie, meats, cheeses, and specialty items.

As the Gallic equivalent of the Fourth of July, Bastille Day is a celebration of French nationalism. But Friday night on Marlborough Street, amongst the crepes and croissants, the wine and Perrier, the displays for the Tour de France and Air France, the musical program celebrated another continent entirely. It was the sound of Africa, albeit Francophone Africa, that commanded the attention of the paying festivalgoers as well as those who were content to park themselves on the sidewalk and watch through the chicken wire for free.

ST. PIERRE, France -- When I was growing up, one of our family holidays was always Bastille Day, courtesy of its also being my mother's birthday. For years, I dreamed of celebrating the French day of independence in Paris, in front of the Bastille itself. That hasn't happened yet, but last summer, my chum and I made it to the French island of St. Pierre just in time for its annual July 14 Bastille Day celebration. The small island is just about an hour's ferry ride off the southeastern coast of Newfoundland.

WELLFLEET — Along a stretch of Route 6 dotted with saltbox cottages and eateries serving lobster rolls and broiled scallops, sits a slightly out-of-place French bakery and restaurant. PB Boulangerie Bistro was opened in April by French natives Philippe Rispoli, 37, and Boris Villatte, 31 (PB is for their first names). The bakery sells close to 250 baguettes and 1,500 plain, chocolate, and almond croissants each day; dozens more loaves such as fig, olive, sourdough, multigrain, and brioche; sublime croque monsieurs, and assorted charcuterie, meats,...

It isn’t every day that you look at a French bistro menu and find that the beer list is as enticing as the food. That’s what happens at Chez Jacky in Brighton. The new restaurant is the latest venture from the Petit Robert team of Jacky Robert and Loic Le Garrec. Le Garrec says that when they decided to offer an extensive beer list with an emphasis on French and Belgian, they did a lot of tasting and chose beers they themselves wanted to drink. “Actually,’’ he says, “my wife chose most of them.’’ She has good taste.

PARIS -- Midway through his second term, Jacques Chirac of France sought yesterday to breathe new life into his presidency, sagging under the weight of a lackluster economy and a sense among the French that he is out of touch. Chirac also sought to neutralize a major political rivalry with his powerful and popular finance minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, in a wide-ranging TV interview aimed at proving Chirac is in charge. In his annual Bastille Day address, the French leader outlined his plans for the last half of his term, showing a rare humility when asked...

Imagine the players of revolutionary France in late 20th century San Francisco. But in this telling, Marie Antoinette becomes a 450-pound, ex-pastry chef, now CopySmart employee, named Esmerelda Van Twinkle. Louis XVI is Jasper Winslow, a restaurant coupon salesman who roams Market Street and keeps Esmerelda supplied with the discounts that enable her gluttony. During a seduction facilitated by a Zoogman Bakery’s dessert masterpiece: “triple chocolate truffle swirl cheesecake, with Heath bar crumbs and caramel roses on top,’’ Jasper impregnates Esmerelda.

It isn’t every day that you look at a French bistro menu and find that the beer list is as enticing as the food. That’s what happens at Chez Jacky in Brighton. The new restaurant is the latest venture from the Petit Robert team of Jacky Robert and Loic Le Garrec. Le Garrec says that when they decided to offer an extensive beer list with an emphasis on French and Belgian, they did a lot of tasting and chose beers they themselves wanted to drink. “Actually,’’ he says, “my wife chose most of them.’’ She has good taste.

Today is Bastille Day, the French national holiday, and since it’s a summer day off in France, people celebrate with a picnic or outdoor party before watching fireworks. Make ratatouille, the popular slow-simmered vegetable stew originally from the south of France. The dish glorifies summer produce and is easy to prepare for a crowd. Across France, most cooks have a recipe for ratatouille. I like to cook the main ingredients — eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers — separately, then add tomatoes and herbs before simmering to blend the...

In spirit and practice, Bastille Day, July 14, is to France what the Fourth of July is to the United States: a nationwide celebration with parades, parties, and fireworks. And picnics, of course! Here we look to the south of France, particularly Provence and the Riviera, for inspiration. Pan bagnat is the superstar sandwich of Nice, ubiquitous in the city’s food shops and markets. The name translates loosely as “bathed bread.” Think of it as a salade nicoise – tuna, anchovies, hard-cooked egg, tomatoes, olives, and more – on bread.

Imagine the players of revolutionary France in late 20th century San Francisco. But in this telling, Marie Antoinette becomes a 450-pound, ex-pastry chef, now CopySmart employee, named Esmerelda Van Twinkle. Louis XVI is Jasper Winslow, a restaurant coupon salesman who roams Market Street and keeps Esmerelda supplied with the discounts that enable her gluttony. During a seduction facilitated by a Zoogman Bakery’s dessert masterpiece: “triple chocolate truffle swirl cheesecake, with Heath bar crumbs and caramel roses on top,’’ Jasper impregnates Esmerelda.

PARIS - President Nicolas Sarkozy opened the traditional Bastille Day military parade to Indian and German troops yesterday, as France looks to expand its global military influence and strengthen strategic partnerships. French forces marched with precision down the Champs-Elysees along with Indian troops in colorful uniforms and German soldiers in sober dress. The annual holiday parade marks the July 14, 1789, storming of the Bastille prison in eastern Paris that helped spark the French Revolution.

As the Gallic equivalent of the Fourth of July, Bastille Day is a celebration of French nationalism. But Friday night on Marlborough Street, amongst the crepes and croissants, the wine and Perrier, the displays for the Tour de France and Air France, the musical program celebrated another continent entirely. It was the sound of Africa, albeit Francophone Africa, that commanded the attention of the paying festivalgoers as well as those who were content to park themselves on the sidewalk and watch through the chicken wire for free.

Summertime, and the living is easy -- so why mess it up with voluntary perspiration? There are civilized people, thank you, who wouldn't be caught dead in athletic socks and trainers, let alone cargo shorts. Adventure is a state of mind, not an embrace of poison ivy and ibuprofen. Stay home and savor the city that roughly 5 million people have to leave home to visit each summer. You'll have it made in the shade. BARD BY NIGHT This summer marks the 34th season for the Publick Theatre, so isn't it about time you headed for the riverbank to cool down on a hot night and catch outdoor...

Independence Day is just around the corner -- not just for Americans, but for the French, who'll be celebrating Bastille Day on July 14 . So, in their honor, we give you french fries. (They gave us the Statue of Liberty, after all.) Whether potatoes were first fried in France, Belgium, or Germany, as various legends go, isn't important, of course. Fries taste great no matter the country. Just think how alone fried clams and hamburgers would be without them. James's Gate 5 McBride St., Jamaica Plain 617-983-2000 We started off with the works -- the loaded fries at...

Independence Day is just around the corner -- not just for Americans, but for the French, who'll be celebrating Bastille Day on July 14 . So, in their honor, we give you french fries. (They gave us the Statue of Liberty, after all.) Whether potatoes were first fried in France, Belgium, or Germany, as various legends go, isn't important, of course. Fries taste great no matter the country. Just think how alone fried clams and hamburgers would be without them. James's Gate 5 McBride St., Jamaica Plain 617-983-2000 We started off with the works -- the loaded fries at James's Gate Irish pub. Chicken.

He knew there were doubters, and it delighted him. That's how Curt Schilling's busy mind works. Tell him he might be too old, or damaged goods, and he'll chortle his way to the best start of his professional career -- just to show you. Here's a little known Curt fact for you: The big guy had never won his first four starts to begin the season -- until last night. On a crystal-clear evening when his command was a little off, but his teammates' bats were dead on, Schilling sat back and cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and in the process dropped his...