Bastille Day Celebrations that will make your tummy happy.

Bastille Day is tomorrow, which means tomorrow is full of celebrations. Here's some of the events I found for tomorrow.

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Peche on 4th Street is offering $2.50 St. Germain cocktails from open until close. If you haven't had St. Germain or been to Peche yet, you are missing out. Get there! Also, here's the blog post from the St. Germain Dinner at Fino.
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Mirabelle is also hosting a Bastille Day Dinner with some French wines for your inner wine fancier. Information follows.

Bastille Day Wine Dinner, Weds, July 14th, @ 7pm. $65 (inclusive of tip/tax) 346-7900
We had such a great response to Michael raiding the cellar for the All American Wine Dinner, that he has been sent down again to find French wines for the celebration of Bastille Day. And what a set of wines: a terrific French 100% pinot noir sparkler, something old (2001 Puligny Montrachet) , something new (New World style Bordeaux), his favorite score from the acclaimed 2007 Rhone vintage, and a little Sauternes to send everyone home sweet. Michael obtained these wines over the years and on futures, so take advantage of his purchasing prowess and enjoy this Bastille wine dinner at half the price of its value.

Mirabelle Restaurant
Bastille Day Wine Dinner
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 7:00pm

Reception
Truffled Brie Gougeres
(NV) Brut D’Argent Sparkling Rose

Menu
Pan roasted Monkfish with Crispy Shallots
Avruga Caviar-Chive Remoulade and Sauce Meuniere
2001 Puligny-Montrachet, Domaine Gerard Chavy

Butter Roasted Quail with Herb-Bread Stuffing
Green Peppercorn Sauce
2006 Chateau GRAND DESTIEU Grand Cru
(Saint-Émilion, 90 points Wine Spectator)

Boeuf Bourguignon ala Julia Child w/ Les Halles Frites
2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, MAS DE BOISLAUZON
(94 points. Robert Parker)

Dessert
Brillat-Savarin Crème Brulee with Pear & Apple Compote
2006 Sauternes, Chateau Roumieu-Lacoste

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Le Cordon Bleu is offering a four course French menu for just 17.89 on July 14th. 

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The Austin Museum of Art is also throwing a Bastille Day Celebration, complete with a Poodle Parade. 

July 14, 2010 from 5:30-9 pm
Austin Museum of Art-Downtown 823 Congress Ave at 9th Street
All proceeds benefit the AMOA’s exhibition and education programs
For everyone with a French flair for excitement…all ages!

Admission Tickets: $10-AMOA Members / $15-General Public
Join AMOA today and receive a free ticket benefit.

OOO-LA-LA! Party Features: Poodle Parade and Prize Promenade/French Music/"Picture Yourself in Paris" collaborative mural/food and wine on a sidewalk café/photograph opportunities/berets and other great souvenirs.

Poodle Prize Package:

• Lunch for two at Chez Nous,
• a 8x10 pet portrait and sitting by Robin Jackson Photography,
• a gift basket from Lofty Dog, and a trophy designed by Carl McQueary.

Peche - Flaming Orange Peels and Nameless Cocktails

Peche.  Not Lindeman's Peche which is a lovely peach lambic.  Peche. 208 West 4th Street in Austin, TX.  That's the Peche I'm talking about.  For the past four months or so, many of my friends have been urging me to go to Peche.  I was promised that I would have a good time.  I was promised that the drinks were delicious.  And I was promised that there would be entertainment at the bar.  I finally visited Peche, and well, those promises were fulfilled.  The decor of Peche immediately caught my eye.  Check out this chandelier.  This water dispenser is pretty neat.  It's several feet tall, and it sits right at the edge of the bar behind the hostess. Fresh berries at the bar.  Good to see that fresh fruit and herbs are used here. Rosemary and mint.  If you haven't seen this before, it's flaming an orange peel.  The fire releases the essential oils in the orange into the drink.  I've tried capturing this neat trick on camera before many times, but it happens really quickly.  I finally got it this time.  In the photo above, you'll see the light from the fire shining from behind the orange peel.  That is the orange peel flaming for a split second.  You can literally see the essential oils from the peel coming out. Check out this video for some more photos of Flamed Orange Peels.  The first time I went to Peche, I happened to have some Tipsy Ispahan Cupcakes with me.  To go along with the cupcakes, Russell at the bar decided to make a drink to pair with the cupcakes.  Let's just say that the drink was fabulous!  Here's the recipe, but unfortunately, it doesn't have a name.  Name suggestions will be taken.  I want something original, creative, and fitting.  There may be a reward to whoever comes up with a fitting name for this drink.  The Nameless Cocktail  ¾ oz Bombay Gin ¾ oz St Germain ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice ¼ oz Simple Syrup 1/8 oz (barspoon) Rose Syrup Shake and Strain into a chilled martini glass and top with 2 oz Champagne.  Garnish with a floating rose pedal. As person who works with beers, spirits, and wine in the kitchen, I'm often asked are my favorite beers, spirits, and wines.  I asked Russell what his favorite spirits were and why.  In less than 10 seconds, these 5 bottles appeared on the bar. Starting from the left, here's Russell's favorites and why. Dulce Vida is organic, made in Austin, 100 proof, and has amazing flavor.  The St. Germain was easy.  What is not to like about St. Germain?  It's also one of my favorites as well.  The subtle fruity and floral notes are perfectly balanced.  Russell sometimes substitutes St. Germain for simple syrup to give drinks that extra dimension.  Pierre Ferrand Cognac is comes from a single vineyard, and he calls it the original whiskey.  St. George Absinthe is up next, and the flavors in it are amazing and complex.  And lastly, Rumple Minze is like an old friend that Russell loves from his previous bartending days.