Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the Bastille Festival is currently bringing French food, wine and art to The Rocks. Over the next three days, you can brave the cold for a glass of Burgundy or Beaujolais (a four taste tour through France’s renowned wine regions will set you back $36) as you trawl the stalls for other tempting morsels. Pick up a cone of cheese and saucisson ($8) to tide you over as you decide between la jambon ($15), ham and cheese crêpes from the French Kiss Crêperie, or steaming bowls of moules frites (mussels and French fries). These items come from the chefs village set up in First Fleet park next to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), however the festival is spread across multiple sites.
You’ll find a Parisian foodie village set up in front of Customs House and a cinema at the historic Cadmans Cottage. While some events are ticketed, access to the stalls and outdoor stage is free. If the little domes of chicken liver parfait and dainty artichoke tarts that I scarfed with fresh Pacific oysters on opening night are anything to go by, you’re sure to find something to tickle your fancy.
The Bastille Festival
Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 July 2023
