Bastille Day will be upon us very soon, and the European summer has finally arrived after a tremendously cold winter. Public holidays and warm weather call for adequate food. Bastille Day can be compared to the 4th of July in the US, but that’s where the comparison ends. The French are not big fans of barbecues; instead, they’ll opt for a family picnic on the banks of a river or in public gardens or a park underneath a canopy of trees. Bread, cheese and wine are the basics, after all, as the saying goes: Le bon vin réjouit le coeur de l’homme (Wine makes glad the heart of man). If you want to make things a little more sophisticated, you can prepare salads beforehand. Quinoa is a great base for summer salads. Add chopped apples, walnuts and raisins or toss with warm chèvre (goat’s cheese) and slivers of smoked ham. Bon Appétit!
