National Bouillabaisse Day

Today is National Bouillabaisse Day! Bouillabaisse is a tasty fish stew that originated in Marseilles, France around 600 B.C. At that time, Marseilles was a Greek colony so the stew was originally called "kakavia." Bouillabaisse also appears in Roman mythology as a soup that Venus feeds to Vulcan. Today, bouillabaisse is an extremely popular dish in the Mediterranean region.

Marseille fishermen typically make the dish when they return to port. Rather than using the more expensive fish that they catch, they use common fish like rockfish and shellfish. Different herbs and spices such as garlic, orange peel, basil, saffron, and bay leaf are added to the soup for flavor. Vegetables like tomatoes, onions, celery, and potatoes were added to the recipe during the 17th century.

To celebrate today, try your hand at making your own bouillabaisse stew for your family to enjoy!