Emilia Arnold is a valued member of our service team. Below she talks about the joys of life in "prison" (the food's better than she might have imagined!) and how we came to be named after one.
Bienvenue à la Bastille!
We Bastillians often refer to the restaurant, fondly, as "The Prison." We are hopelessly devoted - and at times, imprisoned - by our dedication to the task of serving délicieux French food in Ballard.
But there's a legacy to the name that dates back to 12th-century France. Bastille Café & Bar is named for la prise de la Bastille, a fortress and prison that once stood in the heart of Paris. It's not there anymore, because the people of France stormed and destroyed the massive prison in 1789, starting the French Revolution.
The first time I met Bastille owners Deming Maclise and James Weimann, I couldn't help but ask, "why Bastille?" They said the name appealed to them because Bastille was, and is, the symbol of the beginning of the Revolution ... the start of something big.
We may not be rebelling against an oppressive monarchy here, but we are très sérieux about everything from baguettes and butter to superior service. For a prison, our Bastille is actually quite a great place to eat, drink and experience the joie de vivre.
--Emilia Arnold
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