Concrete Playground’s Guide to Bastille Day in Auckland

Along with the start of a new nation, the French revolution also saw the explosion of culture - a culture that Auckland has continually adapted, played with and tried to re-create. And while there's no reason we can't brunch on champagne and macarons every day, there's something extra special planned for Bastille Day at some of our favourite French venues around town.

We decided to put together the below breakdown, offering ways you can eat, play, speak and watch French this Bastille day in Auckland.

EAT FRENCH

Key words: pain au chocolat, croissant, religieuse au chocolat, crepe & eclaire. (These are all names of various french deliciousnesses - order any and enjoy.)

The french have stormed our food scene, with amazing picks from across the board. Your first stop should be the French Markets which are held at La Cigale every weekend.

Next, if you want more of a sit-down affair, you'll want to try Le Garde Manger, Le Petit Bocal, or L'Assiette who are having their own gourmet menu for the day especially. If you happen to be on the North Shore this weekend, Cafe Rendezvous in Takapuna, which has an amazing view of Milford lake, and the tasty La Tropezienne in Browns Bay are both well dench.

And if you want to go more upscale, you can't look past the multi award-winning The French Cafe, which does things to your taste buds which you never thought were possible.

Lastly, if you like baking and doing your own thing, you can try this recipe for eclairs.

PLAY FRENCH

Key phrase to use: Un plus? Pourquoi pas. (One more? Why not.)

Getting down to actually celebrating the day, there are a few options for you francophiles out there. Remuera's going to France with can-can dancers, mimes and a miniature Eiffel Tower installation at the Bastille Day Street Festival, while the Bastille Day celebrations in Freeman's Bay will have a plethora of french performances, and the monthly Titirangi European Market will be Bastille-themed especially. And you could always head into Bastille day with a hangover care of some People of Paris.

Photo credit: aperture4.co.nz

SPEAK FRENCH

Key phrase to use: Bonjour, je voudrais apprendre le francaise. (Hi, I would like to learn french.)

Okay, so this might be a bit more of a long-term goal perhaps for the next Bastille day, but you can't get any more french than speaking french. Well, you can, but that would actually involve being french, which you are not. My personal recommendation is the Alliance Francaise which is one of the best french language institute in the world with the tutors from the continent itself.

WATCH FRENCH

Key quote: C'est l'angoisse du temps qui passe qui nous fait tant parler du temps qu'il fait. - Amelie

(It is the fear of time (french: 'temps') going by, that make one speak so much about today's weather (french: 'temps').

If you were looking for a bit of a popcorn movie date this Bastille day Therese Desqueyroux, a story about one woman's dark imagination and her attempt to escape her bourgeois surroundings is showing in theatres now.

Classics which are well worth a cosy night in would be Amelie or Jeux d'Enfants which both have that romantic cute shy awkward french-ness down to a tee, Le Diner de Cons for pure french humour, and Intouchables which will make your insides feel toasty and warm.

Going for a deeper shade of retrograde, Le Grand Blond avec une Chaussure Noire is a golden french comedy from the seventies, and if you want an even more vintage and more artistic side-seam type of film try Godard's À Bout de Souffle, which basically invented or at least perfected the jump cut. And of course, the New Zealand International Film Festival has their fair share of selection also coming up, not to mention nominated titles recently featured at Cannes.