Ring in Bastille Day with French-inspired celebrations at Le Fou Frog, Westport Café & Bar and Ça Va, and more: your food and drink events for July 10-16

Thursday, July 13

Michael and Nancy Smith are celebrating 10 years in business at Michael Smith (1900 Main) in the Crossroads with a dinner that pulls out all the stops: caviar, king crab, quail, foie gras and beef (and more), plus wine pairings with a 2007 vintage. Read about the meal and other changes coming to the restaurant in this here.

Local barbecue mavens Karen Adler and Judith Fertig have just published another in a long line of successful cookbooks, this one titled Red, White and ‘Que. Together, the two have sold more than half a million volumes of their guides to grilling and cooking outdoors. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. today, they are being hosted at Webster House (1644 Wyandotte). A $54 ticket gets you a copy of the new book, plus a dinner made by Webster House chefs from Adler and Fertig’s recipes. Tickets are available at websterhousekc.com.

Friday, July 14

Kansas City Community Gardens is hosting “Happy Hour in the Gardens” today at its home location at 6917 Kensington Avenue. Enjoy some Boulevard Beer as you tour beautiful Leanna Flandermeyer Beanstalk Children’s Garden, and learn more about KCCG’s mission to feed KC through gardening. Peaceful Pig Vegan BBQ will also be on hand selling sandwiches. Tickets to the event are $5, and are available here (the event is free for KCCG members).

Bastille Day events also begin today, marking the French national holiday honoring the beginning of the French Revolution. Join your fellow Francophiles at Le Fou Frog (400 East Fifth Street), which is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Executive chef and owners Mano and Barbara Rafael are marking the holiday and their anniversary with a celebration that begins tonight and runs through Sunday evening. The regular menu will be available, but call ahead (816-474-6060) for staggered seating times at 6 and 8 p.m. for the special Bastille Day celebrations. Watch for staff in costume, games, singing and dancing from 5 to 9 each night, in addition to the Frog’s well-loved traditional French food and drink. 

Westport Café & Bar (419 Westport Road) will also be offering a special menu through Sunday, for $33, plus wine pairings for an additional $15 (tax and gratuity not included). For your first course, choose from a salad of heirloom tomatoes and olives, tuna ceviche or a chicken-liver-and-foie-gras mousse; for the main course, choose from Faroe Island salmon, steak frites or seared scallops (for an additional $10). For dessert, try lemon custard, chocolate mousse or chai-mixed berries with lime mascarpone. On Friday, a party featuring DJ Sheppa begins at 10 p.m. Make reservations by calling 816-931-4740 or by using Opentable. 

Ça Va (4146 Pennsylvania Avenue) plans to offer a French-exclusive sparkling and rosé list, in addition to special bottles and, of course, French bites from the kitchen (including cake bites for all, while supplies last). On Friday, DJ Rico will be spinning 45s from 7 to 11 p.m. Email caitlin@cavakc.com or call 816-255-3934 for reservations. 

The Alliance Française de Kansas City will be meeting up from 7 to 10 p.m. at Californos (4124 Pennsylvania Avenue). The event promises music and is free, with food and drink available for purchase. 

Saturday, July 15

Grain to Glass (1611 Swift Avenue) is hosting a “Home Brewing for Beginners” event today from 4 to 7 p.m. Learn about the various steps in making beer at home while participating in a hands-on brew session, and learn about the methods for achieving different styles of beer. Attendees will sample beers made by previous classes while brewing; after the event, you’ll bring home bottles of beer for conditioning. The class is $50 a person; register at Brown Paper Tickets.