The Celebration of Poisson d’Avril 2010 at all three Left Bank Brasseries
On Thursday, April 1, the Left Bank Brasseries in Larkspur, Menlo Park and San Jose, led by Master Chefs Roland Passot and Joel Guillon, will be supporting sustainable fisheries practices by introducing to Bay Area diners Sugar Creek Ranch Steelhead Trout to celebrate the lighthearted French tradition Poisson d’Avril (or April Fish).
On April 1, diners ordering the specially created “poisson du jour” (fish of the day), will be among the first to taste a sweet, tender trout raised in Northern California by Sugar Creek Ranch near Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County. The trout are raised on a solar powered farm, using no hormones or antibiotics, in “gin clear” water from Sugar Creek and Scott River; which both flow from the Trinity Alps and the Salmon Mountains. Sugar Creek was given its name by the area’s original settlers who thought the fish from the creek tasted sweet as sugar. On the day of the event, 30% of the proceeds from the sale of the “poisson du jour” will be donated to The Watershed Project, a non-profit organization working to protect and restore the San Francisco Bay Area watershed.
Left Bank Brasseries
For reservations, please call or visit www.leftbank.com
Larkspur, 507 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939, 415.927.3331
Menlo Park, 635 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, 650.473.6543
San Jose, 377 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128, 408.984.3500
About the French Tradition of Poisson d’Avril
When France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, tthe beginning of the year moved from April 1 to January 1. Some people did not hear about the switch or refused to accept the change of date and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Others took this opportunity to play tricks on them and called them "April Fools." Today in France, April 1st is called Poisson d'Avril (April Fish). French children tape a paper fish to their friends’ backs and when the prank is discovered, the prankster yells, "Poisson d'Avril!"