Host The Perfect Parisian Picnic For Bastille Day

Bastille Day is the perfect excuse to spend a day living your chicest Parisian life, wherever you are in the world. With the sun shining, and eager to feast on all our favorite French foods, July 14, the French National Day, makes it totally appropriate for us to fill a picnic basket with baguettes, rosé, quiche, and macarons, and head out to celebrate the food and heritage of one of the most-loved European countries.

A perfectly crisp tart shell, filled with fluffy eggs, salty bacon, and deeply flavored mushrooms makes a filling but summery quiche.

For the Bacon Mushroom Quiche recipe, click here.

A plate of salami, saucissons, and other cold cuts, served with salty, crunchy cornichons, is the perfect way to start your lazy picnic afternoon.

For help selecting your charcuterie, click here.

Fill a baguette with salty butter, jambon de Paris, and your favorite hard French cheese before slicing it up into thin pieces for bite-size pieces of the simplest, yet tastiest, sandwich.

For the Classic French Ham and Cheese Baguette recipe, click here.

When you've finished with the main meal, but aren't quite ready to move on to dessert, set out a selection of cheese and crackers, and nibble away on everybody's favorite salty treat until it's time to indulge in something sweet.

For tips on making the perfect cheese plate, click here.

This classic French dessert is really simple to make: Summer fruits are topped with a light and fluffy batter before being baked and cut into squares for easy picnic transportation.

For the Cherry-Almond Clafoutis recipe, click here.

Make the most of summer's juicy cherry tomatoes by roasting them on a tart with plenty of fresh herbs and goat cheese.

For the Cherry Tomato Tart recipe, click here.

Mushroom pâté tends to be a greatly underappreciated French food. Make sure you include it at your picnic, served with a crunchy baguette, as a rich and comforting treat.

For the Light and Creamy Mushroom Pâté recipe, click here.

Homemade cheese straws make a wonderful picnic party snack, especially when accompanied by a crisp, cold glass of rosé.

For the Crunchy Cheddar and Rosemary Cheese Straws recipe, click here.

Ratatouille doesn't always have to be served hot. Fill a container with it for a picnic-appropriate, summer vegetable-filled side dish.

For Remy's Classic French Ratatouille recipe, click here.

A French picnic wouldn't be complete without a salad of haricot verts. This dish is so simple  it consists of just fresh beans, parsley, and a Dijon vinaigrette — but so flavorful.

For the Haricot Verts and Parsley Salad recipe, click here.

Cook up some French puy lentils and toss them with sautéed celery, carrots, onion, and garlic for a classic French picnic dish.

For the French Picnic Lentil Salad recipe, click here.

These mini, light, nutty cakes are perfect for taking on a picnic: They're easily transportable and make a wonderful finish to a decadent meal.

For the Pistachio and Almond Financiers recipe, click here.

Accompany your charcuterie and wine with some crunchy radishes and celery dipped in creamy, garlicy aioli.

For the Aioli recipe, click here.

Pick up some macarons from your favorite pastry shop or try making your own, and enjoy biting through the crisp shell to the airy, fruity interior.

For the Raspberry Macarons recipe, click here.

This salad is a wonderful vegetarian picnic entrée, or a great side dish for the meat-eaters. Pack the dressing separately, and drizzle it over the top just before you eat to stop the leaves from going soggy.

For the Roasted Beets and Arugula Salad With Toasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe, click here.

A rotisserie chicken is a classic centerpiece at every French dinner party or picnic. This flavorful entrée can be carved before you set out so everybody can easily help themselves to the tasty meat.

For the Perfect Roasted Chicken recipe, click here.

A chilled glass of rosé is essential at every summertime, French-inspired picnic. Keep your bottle as cool as possible with ice packs and coolers, and pack proper glasses so that you can enjoy the wine in style.

For more information on French rosé wines, click here.

Salad Niçoise is a beautiful and delicious accompaniment to every picnic. Don't add the dressing until you arrive, and slice the tuna up before you set off.

For the Salade Niçoise recipe, click here.

Salmon rillettes are wonderfully rich and creamy, but somehow still seem perfect for summer. Slather them on crackers and bread for a tasty start to the picnic.

For the Salmon Rillettes recipe, click here.

End your meal with a decadent apricot and almond tart to show off summer's ripe fruits and your own culinary talent. This delicate dessert will make an impressive end to your perfect Parisian picnic.

For the Apricot-Almond Tart recipe, click here.