Celebrate Bastille Day Liberty Festival At Brasserie Les Halles

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO! DOWNTOWN FOR
THE ANNUAL BASTILLE DAY RACES, WEDNESDAY JULY 14th
MAYOR BLOOMBERG OFFICIALLY DECLARES JULY 4 - 14
AS THE "LES HALLES LIBERTY FESTIVAL"
Eleven Days Celebrating American and French Freedom

New York, June 2004 - Summertime in New York means outdoor fun, parties, and barbeque food. Brasserie Les Halles Bastille Races and festivities have now becoming an annual summer tradition of family, fun, and food. After an extremely successful event last July, Les Halles brings back the Liberty Festival and Bastille Races summer celebration in the heart of Manhattan's Financial District (close to Lady Liberty herself). "As one of the largest summer events downtown, the Liberty Festival amplifies the vibrant come-back spirit of downtown New York," notes Philippe Lajaunie, proprietor of Les Halles brasseries. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proclaimed July 4th to the 14th, 2004 as the "Les Halles Liberty Festival." "Brasserie Les Halles," the Mayor states, "is the perfect host for the Liberty Festival." Les Halles Downtown will be celebrating the most important dates in the U.S. and France - the 4th of July, America's Independence Day, and the 14th of July, Bastille Day, during an 11 day Festival. A Liberty Festival will be produced in all three cities that are home to a Brasserie Les Halles: NYC, D.C., and Miami.

RED WHITE AND BLUE MENU SPECIALS - JULY 4 - 14
Beginning on Friday, July 4th, Les Halles Downtown will set the summer spirit with eleven straight days of non-stop activities including trivia quizzes, prizes, music, and of course a special 'Red, White & Blue' menu in the restaurant (at 15 John Street, off Broadway). The Liberty Festival dishes will feature Blue, White and Red ingredients, presented in the shape of both American and French flags. The special menu will feature a "Stars and Stripes" (Tuna and Tomato Tartare) Appetizer, and Cabillaud Tricolore (Codfish with Beet and Blue Potato Purie, White Wine Sauce) as Entrie. For dessert - a tricolor treat of Drapeau Givri (Curacao, Lemon and Raspberry Frozen Parfait). Of course, the regular brasserie menu is always available. For Stars and Stripes appetizer, "Codfish Tricolore" and Drapeau Givri sold throughout the 11 days of the Liberty Festival, half of the price of each dish will be donated to the Best Buddies charity. (Best Buddies is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with mental retardation by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.) Best Buddies is the sponsor of the Liberty Festival in the 3 cities.

OUTDOOR LIBERTY FESTIVAL: RACES & ENTERTAINMENT - JULY 14, BASTILLE DAY
The activities in the restaurant will then bubble over onto the street on Wednesday, July 14th (Bastille Day) with the outdoor Liberty Festival street party on John Street from 12:00Noon - 9:00PM featuring music, entertainment such as Cancan dancers, portraiture, historic characters, Lady Liberty, a live DJ, the famous Bastille Races' and of course, food. Festival goers line the racecourse to cheer on the contestants, and enjoy the often-hilarious antics of these unique games. For the Waiter's/Waitress' Race, restaurant wait-staff from all over the city speed-walk the racecourse balancing a tray with a bottle and a wine glass on one hand. This year, a team of 10 waiters, winners of the Stockholm Waiter's Race, will
be flying in from Scandinavia to compete. "The Waiter's Race has been so popular, that we created more races so kids, chefs and even restaurant goers could participate," according to Lajaunie. The other races are; the Chef's Race, a Les Haller's Race (Guest's Race) and a Les Halles Angel's Race (Children's Race). The suggested entry fee for all races is $10, with all proceeds g