French Kissing in Oak Park
The 22nd Annual French Festival Goes Down July 11 and 12
Imagining France without its cuisine is like considering Eiffel without his tower. Even the country’s greatest general is remembered by the pastry that shares his name; while most would savor a Napoleon, who would want to eat a Patton? A bit of France comes to Santa Barbara this weekend (Sat., July 11-Sun., July 12) as the 22nd French Festival alights in Oak Park, bringing berets, baguettes, and bonbons. Sure, there’s the somehow both silly and sublime Poodle Parade and the sublime and silly Femme Fatales Drag Review, but there’s also fabulous French calorie upon buttered calorie. That includes three crpe companies (that’s a lot of crpe!), plus food from Normandy to Vietnam, with stops at Alsace and Cajun country along the way. After all, we’re talking about a nation that can name a food pissaladire and still make it something you completely want to eat (it’s onion, anchovy, and black olive flatbread, if you didn’t know). For more information and a schedule of events, see frenchfestival.com.
