The French haven't been winning any popularity contests lately, but one brasserie owner is trying to bring back some of the goodwill that kept the French wines and steak frites flowing in the city before the war in Iraq. Philippe Lajaunie, co-owner of Brasserie Les Halles—the French steak house on Park Avenue South made famous by chef-cum-author Anthony Bourdain—and Les Halles Downtown, held a "Liberty Festival" to mark American and French independence with a street festival spanning the days between the Fourth of July and Bastille Day. The culmination was a final street fair and public bash in front of the downtown location on John Street.
Planned by Lajaunie and Les Halles' Christ?le de la Haye, the event blocked John Street from Broadway to Nassau Street. Les Halles sold sandwiches from a table outside, and Ciao Bella offered red strawberry sorbet, white pistachio gelato and blueberry sorbet. The interior of Les Halles Downtown was festooned with red, white and blue balloons, ribbons and bunting, and tables decked with French and American flags. Cancan dancers performed on a small makeshift stage in front of the restaurant.
The traditional Bastille Day waiters' race, with waiters carrying full bottles of Champagne (in this race, it was provided by event sponsor Champagne Charles Heidsieck), a flute full of bubbly and a wedge of brie (from event sponsor Président), raced down John Street without spilling or dropping any contents on the tray. The winner, a waiter from—you guessed it—Les Halles, received a trip to Cancun and armloads of Champagne and wine. Races for children, adult guests and chefs followed.
For the last five years, Les Halles participated in the big French Institute/Alliance Française Bastille Day street fair on 60th Street with fellow French restaurateurs like D'Artagnan and La Caravelle. But after opening the downtown branch of Les Halles a few blocks from the World Trade Center site in January 2002, Lajaunie decided to host his own event to bring some of the festivities to lower Manhattan. Partial proceeds from the event, including concessions and the entry fee for the races, went to nonprofit Best Buddies.
—Suzanne Ito
Read about the FIAF Bastille Day street festival in 2001...
Planned by Lajaunie and Les Halles' Christ?le de la Haye, the event blocked John Street from Broadway to Nassau Street. Les Halles sold sandwiches from a table outside, and Ciao Bella offered red strawberry sorbet, white pistachio gelato and blueberry sorbet. The interior of Les Halles Downtown was festooned with red, white and blue balloons, ribbons and bunting, and tables decked with French and American flags. Cancan dancers performed on a small makeshift stage in front of the restaurant.
The traditional Bastille Day waiters' race, with waiters carrying full bottles of Champagne (in this race, it was provided by event sponsor Champagne Charles Heidsieck), a flute full of bubbly and a wedge of brie (from event sponsor Président), raced down John Street without spilling or dropping any contents on the tray. The winner, a waiter from—you guessed it—Les Halles, received a trip to Cancun and armloads of Champagne and wine. Races for children, adult guests and chefs followed.
For the last five years, Les Halles participated in the big French Institute/Alliance Française Bastille Day street fair on 60th Street with fellow French restaurateurs like D'Artagnan and La Caravelle. But after opening the downtown branch of Les Halles a few blocks from the World Trade Center site in January 2002, Lajaunie decided to host his own event to bring some of the festivities to lower Manhattan. Partial proceeds from the event, including concessions and the entry fee for the races, went to nonprofit Best Buddies.
—Suzanne Ito
Read about the FIAF Bastille Day street festival in 2001...
John Street from Broadway to Nassau Street was closed off for the festival, which featured food stands, a DJ and a traditional waiters' race.
Cancan dancers performed on a small portable stage for Les Halles's Liberty Festival on John Street.
Ray Raymond, winner of the children's race, was congratulated by Philippe Lajaunie, co-owner of Les Halles and Les Halles Downtown.
Les Halles Downtown was festooned with red, white and blue balloons, ribbons and bunting.
