We'll Take To The Yard Like A Coq [Au Vin] Fight

NATIONAL DISH OF FRANCE - Coq Au Vin

Bienvenue GGJ Pilgrims! We've finally reached the land of the venerable French cuisine! The French and all that comes with them are very close to my heart, and their food is particularly close to my stomach.

Across the Seine to La Tour Eiffel

One of the highlights of my life was travelling to France in 2008. And although I only got to set foot in Paris, it was a dream come true. My Contiki tour ended in Paris, and while most left to go back to London, I decided to remain in La Ville-Lumière for an extra week. This was during a bitter winter, where it rained nearly everyday. Added to that, I was alone and had basically no money left, so spent most of the days just walking around the arrondissements. In spite of this I have never felt so enamored with a city!

stunning Parisian sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower

Entering the city, our tour guide showed off the architectural highlights. I was so fixated on each individual building that I wasn't taking in the whole landscape. We pulled out the front of l'École Militaire, which has been a Military College since 1750, and were told to see if we could find the soldiers training with lasers. This was to distract from what was around us, and when we were eventually told to turn right I was gobsmacked. That was the first time I saw La Tour Eiffel. Hopping off the bus and standing at the base of the Eiffel Tour is an indelible memory, and I was so awestruck (not to mention craning my neck sky high) that I didn't notice the hip height stone columns surrounding it. My shins were in pain, but nothing was gonna stop me from climbing that majestic structure right to the top! Except the wind, which was so blustery they closed off the 3rd level. Although I did go back a few days later and finally made it to the top!


I could write a novel about my times in Paris, but this post is long as it is. But the rest of my time was filled with great sights, sounds, drinks and of course food! From the Moulin Rouge to Musée du Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris to Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris has it all and more! And although Melbourne is still my favourite place in the world, Paris does come a close second!


With SO many delicious meals originating in this wonderful country it is quite hard to choose one that is most distinguishable as the national dish. Boeuf à la bourguignonne, bouillabaisse, cassoulet are just some of the dishes that spring to mind when you mention French gastronomy. I choose Coq au vin as the dish to cook, which is chicken braised in red wine, lardons and mushrooms. To me it symbolises the rich, hearty and rustic style of French cooking and it one of the best meals for sharing communally for a celebration and even just a Sunday meal. And of course there has to be plenty of vin to be consumed alongside it.


If you're an avid GGJ reader, and genuine GGJ pilgrim, you know that my love for amateur cooking began with a gift of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It was one of the best gifts I have received and I am in deep gratitude to my best friend Emma for starting me on my culinary path. So as an homage to Julia, I've decided to use her recipe for Coq au vin. Now you might be thinking "Sacrilège! Julia est américainne, pas le française!", and I say to you WOAH! lovely French speaking person. Whilst it is true that Julia is American, she developed the cookbook with two authentically genuine Frenchy McFrench madames from traditional French recipes. So by the transitive property I am essentially cooking with Julia Child! Tick that off the list of things to do in life!

This installment of The GGJ was constructed to celebrate La Fête Nationale, or as we say en anglais, Bastille Day. This day is generally thought, and rightfully so, to be the celebration of the storming of the Bastille in 1789, and the French people seizing power from the oppressive monarchy. However, I have found with research that it is to commemorate the anniversary of a GIANT feast that was held in 1790, which in turn was held to commemorate the anniversary of storming the Bastille. And I thought... celebrating past Fat Diabetic Whore feasts with another Fat Diabetic Whore feast... that is right up the alley of The Molefaces. So over they came for some French gastronomic good times!


Enjoy, or as they say in France, Bon appétit!



For Julia's classic Coq Au Vin recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/saras-secrets/chicken-in-red-wine-with-onions-mushrooms-and-bacon-coq-au-vin-recipe/index.html

Difficulty:         3

Appearance:    5

Taste:               4

TOTAL:            12

Note: Difficulty is scaled in reverse to the other categories, where 1 =  was extremely difficult to make, and 5 = was easy to make. 

For this splendiferous french delight, I used the famous Julia Child recipe. As detailed and process-filled as Julia recipes generally can be, and this certainly is one of those, I have cooked it several times. So I am pretty down with the Coq au vin, Julia style. But the chicken still simmers for about 2 hours, so that gives you time for the other components.

Now as I've said I have cooked this a few times, and have used different vin rouge. This has produced various hues to the chicken, from rustic brown to funky purple! This time however, it did look as it was supposed to. Taking just the chicken, it was a pleasant looking dish, but when served with a helping of gravy alongside some shallots and mushrooms it brings the salivating to a whole new level. Finally, when accompanied with some sides like butter beans and egg noodles, it paints a picture that could be found on any table throughout the French countryside.

And the taste was magnifique! A perfect meal to be had on a cold winters night (as July 14th is during winter in Australia). The meat was so tender it was falling off the bone. And the thickened gravy with bacon was divine! Washed down with some Burgundy and Côtes du Rhône, it was a typical meal that The Molefaces love to enjoy. All I need now is to find some way to get back to France