Bon Appétit! RVA French Food Festival returns Saturday

Sixth annual event celebrates French food, arts, culture, and more

May 1, 2014; 6:00 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

The RVA French Food Festival returns to the Little Sisters of the Poor at 1503 Michaels Road this Saturday from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM. The festival, now in its sixth year, is a celebration of all things French–food, culture, arts, and more.

A wide variety of sweet and savory French dishes will be prepared by well known local chefs including Paul Elbling (former owner and Executive Chef La Petite France), Sean Murphy (Executive Chef at The Savory Grain) and Sara Ayyash (Pastry Chef at Lemaire).

Live music will take place throughout the day and kids will be entertained by moonwalks, face painting, a balloon artist, and local mascot appearances. A marketplace featuring local artisans and craftsmen will be on site as well.

The festival is free and open to the public with a suggested $2 donation to the Little Sisters of the Poor, an organization that serves the elderly in 30 nations around the globe.

Free parking is available in the Forest Office Park lots along Three Chopt Road, between Michaels Road and Forest Avenue. For more information, visit the RVA French Food Festival website or call 804.288.6245.

This year’s full menu is as follows:

Régional Entrée Specialtiés by Chef Paul – $12

Coulibiac de Saumon au Coulis de homard (Normandie)

Crusty filet of salmon coulibiac w/spinach, lobster sauce

Crêpe de Coquille St. Jacques et Crevettes (Bretagne)

Creamed scallops, shrimp and crayfish served in a puff pastry

Boeuf Bourguignon au Riz (Bourgogne)

Savory beef burgundy with vegetables and noodles

Bouchée à la Reine (Lyon)

Veal, chicken, and mushrooms served in a puff pastry with creamed velouté sauce

Cajun Specialties by Chef Sean – $5 – $10

BBQ Shrimp-n-Grits

Large, succulent shrimp barbecued Crescent City style in a BBQ sauce over gruyere grits

Gumbo Ya Ya

Cajun style Gumbo made with a dark roux, Andouille sausage, hot smoked sausage and braised chicken, served with rice

Beignets

Traditional French market pastry – dough cut into squares, deep fried, and sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar

Low Country Boil – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Shrimp, corn on the cob & redskin potatoes in a Cajun boil broth

Buffet Bistro – $1 – $7

Quiche

Cheese or Bacon & Cheese

Croissant Sandwiches

Ham & Cheese or Cheese

Barbecue Sandwiches, Hot Dogs, French Fries and Chips will also be available in Buffet Bistro. Breads and Cheeses will be available in the Boulangerie.

Régional Dessert Specialtiés – $5

Tarte aux Pommes Royale (Alsace)

Glazed Alsatian apple tarte

Le Gateau de Macaron aux amandes (Auvergne)

Almond macaroon cake

Crème Brulée (Limoges)

Crème Brulée A La Vanille du Limousin

Napoleon éclair au Chocolat (Paris)

Chocolate éclair

Sr. Teresa’s Cream Puffs

Mousse au Chocolat

Chocolate mousse

Torte au Chocolat

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Assorted French-themed cookies

Dessert Crêpes – $6

Crêpe au Fromage Blanc au Fraises

Sweet cream cheese filling, strawberries, whipped cream, macaroon sprinkles

Crêpe au Chocolat

Chocolate hazlenut filling, whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, toasted hazlenuts

Crêpe Peche Melba

Sliced peaches, whipped cream, raspberry sauce, sliced toasted almonds

Crepe Normandie

Pears and Sultana Raisins in a crêpe with whipping cream

Photo by: RVA French Food Festival

May 1, 2014 6:00 AM · in West End 0