FOOD NOTES/Thanksgiving with the Franco-American Classics

The Seabees of the 111th Naval Construction Battalion give thanks in Normandy, France on Thanksgiving, 1944.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - It may be a truly American holiday, but at Bastille, the intimate bistro located in Old Town, Thanksgiving has a touch of Paris.  
 
This year the holiday falls on Thursday, November 24th, and Bastille is celebrating with a three course, all inclusive $78 prix fixe ($110 with wine) meal replete with Franco-American classics.  
 
The first course includes a choice of pumpkin soup, frisee salad, lardons with 60 degree egg and croutons, terrine de foie de volailles or  a half dozen of local VA Oysters on the half shell.  Choice of entrees include a touch of everything from land and sea.  
 
Guests may choose from an Amish County turkey duo: slow-cooked breast and confit leg ash “stuffing” with fresh cranberry sauce and sweet potato fondante cooked in duck fat; Basset Farms Angus beef sirloin roast with classic Bordelaise sauce and Potato “gratin Dauphinois”, roasted Brussels sprouts and mushrooms; olive oil poached Cod in saffron broth with garniture of fennel, leeks, carrots and oyster mushrooms or a duo of Papa Weaver Farm pork: pork belly and roasted loin, with natural jus, quince, apples and endive.
 
Dessert is its own celebration.  
 
Michelle Poteaux offers a sinful finish to the festive meal with a choice of pumpkin bavaroise and molasses spice cake with fall squash and raisin compote; Valrhona Manjari chocolate marquise,with chocolate hazelnut crunch and banana rum caramel sauce or apple pecan crumble with caramel, crème Chantilly. A trio of artisan cheese is also available at $12.  
 
Bastille, named to Washingtonian’s top 100 restaurants in 2008-2011, Among Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top 50 Best Restaurants and Winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, is located at 1201 N. Royal Street in Old Town Alexandria, VA.  Bastille is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch and dinner.  
 
For further information or to make reservations, please call 703-519-3776 or visit www.bastillerestaurant.com.