Friday, July 08, 2022

Coq au Vin by Julia Child

Time for some French food. Here's the two-page recipe I followed.

It's been a long time since I conscientiously followed a recipe from Julia Child's famous book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. For three friends coming to dinner at our house, I decided to make coq au vin, a dish of chicken in red wine with various garnishes. I didn't take any short cuts: I simmered the bacon, browned the chicken, added the red wine and other ingredients, simmered some more, and then reduced the sauce and thickened it with kneaded butter. I also made the mushrooms, onions, and parsley potatoes that are recommended to eat with the chicken. 

Let's face it: Julia Child's recipes take time and concentration. But they are worth every minute. 
 
Browning the chicken.

Braised onions -- first browned, then simmered in stock.

Mushrooms are sautéed, combined with the braised onions.


The recipe is available online at Eater: "Julia Child's Coq au Vin." The online recipe is substantially the same as the one in the book, but the instructions for making the onions are much more detailed in the book, where you sauté them first and braise them -- which has a delicious result. I chose to serve the two parts of the dish in separate baking dishes, but you are actually supposed to combine them.

Serving Dinner

Before dinner we drank red wine and Prosecco with some of Len's French bread,
cheese, and olive tapenade. Then we had a salad (ordinary -- no photo).

The chicken, the mushrooms and onions, and Julia Child's suggested side dish, parsley potatoes.

The red wine sauce on the chicken is absolutely delicious, if I say so myself. I enjoyed cooking these traditional recipes, using my earthenware baking dish. It's a very typical French kitchen item, which I bought in a Paris cookware store, used in our temporary apartment there, and brought back from one of our long stays in Paris.

Dessert -- Actually Two Desserts!


Our wonderful guest Paula baked a chocolate cake and an Atlantic Beach Pie.
Also wonderful guest Mary brought strawberries, whipped cream, and ice cream.
There’s a long story — and a recipe — associated with the pie, but that will be its own blog post.

Blog post and photos © 2022 mae sander.
Shared with Paris in July at Thyme for Tea.



21 comments:

eileeninmd said...

The recipe sounds yummy, dessert looks delicious too.
Take care, enjoy your day and happy weekend!

My name is Erika. said...

I think I need to come to dinner at your house next time time you make coq-au-vin. Smile. It looks delicious Mae. hugs-Erika

Jeanie said...

I've made Julia's Coq au Vin and you're right -- it's a very time consuming recipe -- but it is worth every minute. Not sure I would have done it in the heat of the summer but it's wonderful being in the kitchen on a cool fall or cold winter day, doing all that cooking and smelling and tasting! Your setting, appetizers, desserts, all look fabulous too!

Jenn Jilks said...

Good for you! I haven't been to someone's house, other than our kids, in 20 years!
(ツ) from Jenn Jilks , ON, Canada!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

The most I have ever done with Julia Child is watch her shows on TV. She was a really fun cook, but I have no patience to cook like she did. Your meal looks absolutely fabulous. I can tell you took the time to fix the meal the "Julia" way!

Divers and Sundry said...

That looks like a delicious meal, start to finish. The chicken recipe definitely looks like something worth trying. Thanks!

Emma at Words And Peace / France Book Tours said...

awesome! I like preparing coq au vin as well. Easy, but takes lots of time to do it well, like most French dishes.
I have best results when after the sauteed parts I let everything simmer gently in a crockpot. Even more flavor

Tandy | Lavender and Lime (http://tandysinclair.com) said...

The dishes look amazing, and I like that you served them separately.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Mae, what an enviable meal, what lucky guests! The desserts your friends brought look lovely as well.

DVArtist said...

This is just a beautiful meal.

Cindy said...

It all looks super yummy!!!

Mark Baker said...

Glad your dinner was a success!

Iris Flavia said...

Hmmmm, would be great to the movie Kokowääh (Kokowääh is an onomatopoetic depiction of the French pronunciation of coq au vin. (wiki))

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

The best meal I ever ate was French. My sister made a birthday dinner of Beef Bourguignon for me. The flavor was rich and amazing. I will never forget it.

I suspect that this recipe would be rich and flavorful, too. I must try it.

Emily said...

Looks amazing!

Hope you had a great time eating it!

Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2022/07/10/sunday-salon-12/

Jackie McGuinness said...

I never watched the original Julia Child shows, only got to know her through the newer series Julia and then the cooking show The Julia Child Challenge. This got me interested and her coq au vin looked delicious as does yours!!

Tina said...

Such a lovely meal, I haven't had Coq au Vin in a year or more. You have inspired me.

Elza Reads said...

Oe wow Mae! Mouth watering delicious! I love to follow my own head in the kitchen, but to a follow a connoisseur recipe is just in another class.

Glad you had such a fun time with your friends.

Have a good week ahead!

Elza Reads

Terrie said...

I'm far too lazy of a cook to attempt something like this - though I admire those who do! It looks/sounds delish, BUT, never in a million years would I attempt it!

JoAnn said...

Your meal looks fabulous!! I haven't made one of Julia's recipes in years, but you make me want to pull out the cookbook.

Jinjer-The Intrepid Angeleno said...

That all looks SO delicious! Looking forward to the post about the Atlantic Beach Pie.