Vive La Cuisine! Bastille Day Eats

Looking for a way to express your inner gastronome this Bastille Day? Lucky for you, L.A. is full of fine French dining (as well as some options for the more budget-minded). A number of restaurants are offering prix-fixe menus if you're feeling like a splurge: $130 per person at Melisse, $85 at La Cachette, and $48 at Comme Ca. Or, you can try out the newly opened Anisette, which LAist conveniently checked out last month.

Not willing to shell out the big bucks for a pricey feast? You can put together a picnic at Nicole's Gourmet Foods in Pasadena or at Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market at the Farmer's Market. Both shops offer wine, foie gras, escargots, cheeses, and other Gallic delights. The Little Next Door also offers a relaxed bistro atmosphere -- or you can go big with The Little Door, a pricier option.

Of course, the simplest option may be to flip open your copy of Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cuisine" and pick a recipe to prepare at home. French onion soup is a classic and delicious way to stage a French revolution in your own kitchen. Don't have a French cookbook? Here's a link to the recipe -- and feel free to top if off with plenty of cheese. Do you have a favorite French recipe or bistro to recommend? Let's hear it in the comments, and bon appetit!

Photo by the-tml via Flickr.