The Alliance Française de Sydney Bastille Day Party 2009, Paddington Town Hall (18 July 2009)

Corner of Oxford Street and Oatley Road, Paddington NSW 2020
http://www.afsydney.com.au

Oui Oui Paris in Paddington!

This was one of the biggest events advertised by TimeOut Sydney to celebrate Bastille Day in Sydney which includes a three-course French style dinner, live jazz music, drinks and a burlesque show ($115/person). The venue was fully immersed with the red, white and blue colours and even though I'm not French I indeed felt part of a large French community. 

I was pretty skeptical of food served by a catering company to a large number of people, much like a wedding, but I thought Amory Catering did a pretty good job. Presentation was better than I expected and the dishes that stood out on taste for me were the moist roasted chicken and the smooth crème brûlée. Even though I could get better and more authentic cooked French dishes and wine as a degustation in many French Restaurants in Sydney I would have missed out on the great French music, singing, dancing and party atmosphere of this event including a chance to win a trip to Paris in their raffles. The burlesque show was very professional, energetic, entertaining and a great highlight of the night for me — for more photos of the dancers click here.

Do you have a favourite French restaurant and dish?

Entrée

Tour de Crevette Royale: King prawn tower with cayenne spiced de puy lentils, cream cheese, baby herb salad and citrus dressing

Flamiche aux Poireaux: A traditional leek and gruyere cheese tart served with julienne of vegetables and balsamic reduction

Main course

Supreme de poulet aux Champignons: Roasted chicken breast supreme on truffle mashed potatoes with buttered beans and mushroom velouté

Filet de bœuf Châteaubriand et sa sauce Béarnaise: Beef tenderloin fillet, sauce Béarnaise, ratatouille vegetable and fondant potatoes

Dessert

French Apple Tart, served with fresh cream, almond tuille with Bastille Day fruit salad

Crème Brûlée served with dried fruit and almond biscotti

Table setting

Pre drink

French Wines

White, rose and red from Chateau de Sours, Bordeaux

Coffee

Toby's Estate coffee

Rowie's Cakes meringue

The French Atmosphere

French samples

French music

Music by Annique Azure and C'est la Vie

'Oui Oui Paris' Burlesque Dancers

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