July has become a truly delicious month with all the specialty foods being celebrated, America’s birthday festivities on the 4th, followed by numerous summer restaurant week promotions, and now coming up on the 14th, France’s National Holiday, Bastille Day. Many restaurants have turned a single day of festivities into a week-long event–anything to encourage dining out. Here’s your opportunity celebrate French food and wine and take advantage of specially priced promotions and have a great time!

If you happen to be in Washington, DC, then you might want to consider celebrating Bastille Day at the French Embassy with an evening of fun on Saturday, July 11th. Don’t worry there will plenty of opportunities to EAT CAKE and other sweets. Boston and Chicago partner with their French consulates for some Bastille fun–that in itself sounds like a party–let’s storm them.

A number of French restaurants throughout the country have special $17.89 menus to celebrate 1789, the year of French liberation. In Portland, OR,  The Heathman Restaurant and Bar has an impressive list of entrees for $17.89. Lettuce Entertain You’s Mon Ami Gabi, a classic neighborhood French bistro, has a special Bastille Day menu from the 9th-15th at its five locations (Washington, DC area, Chicago, and Las Vegas).

If you’re looking for an excuse to head out of San Francisco into Napa, then Bistro Jeanty, Auberge du Soleil, and etoile at Domaine Chandon all have Bastille Day menus.

If you enjoy dining at a bistro, find out what they have planned. If they have nothing on the books, it’s still early enough to convince them to get into the spirit and at least offer you a Cotes du Rhone to help you celebrate.

I like mine just a bit chilled.

Any excuse to celebrate!