National Coq Au Vin Day
Indulge your taste buds with Coq au Vin! This classic French dish is the epitome of indulgence, filled with rich flavors, tender chicken, and a touch of wine. So go ahead, raise your fork and enjoy a little taste of France.
Oooh la la! It’s time to celebrate a delicious French stew that has been popular all over the world for many years. National Coq Au Vin Day is here!Â
History of National Coq Au Vin Day
While the exact beginning of coq au vin (pronounced kok-oh-vah[n]) can’t be verified, the dish has a number of different legends that surround its origins. Some trace coq au vin all the way back to Julius Caesar and ancient Gaul, but written documentation of this well-known French dish only dates back to sometime in the 20th century. Prior to that, a very similar dish, called poulet au vin blanc, was placed in a cookbook in the year 1864.
Though it dates back much further, famous American-French chef Julia Child can be credited with making the dish much more popular in the United States in the 1960s and beyond. Julia Child’s recipe for coq au vin that was published in her 1961 cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, made the recipe accessible in kitchens throughout the US and other places.
While recipes can differ slightly, the general idea for coq au vin is that it is made from chicken pieces that are braised in a sauce of wine, onions, mushrooms, garlic and perhaps some other spices and flavors. This French stew is slow braised to allow the flavors to meld, creating a rich sauce that makes a delicious meal, particularly in cooler weather.
No matter how old it is, coq au vin offers a delicious and hearty meal with rustic flavors that is absolutely worth celebrating. And National Coq Au Vin Day is the time to do just that!
How to Celebrate National Coq Au Vin Day
Looking for ideas to celebrate National Coq Au Vin Day? Have tons of fun celebrating with some of these ideas for the day:
Host a French Meal
Adventurous culinary artists may find that National Coq Au Vin Day is the ideal time to invite some friends or family members over to host a dinner party featuring French cuisine. Rustle up some favorite recipes from Julia Child and have a gathering that celebrates all things French!
In addition to French cooking, consider inviting guests to dress up in their best French outfits or costumes. Perhaps it would also be fun to offer some French macarons for dessert. Those who don’t have much time to bake might consider ordering them from a local bakery.
Make a National Coq Au Vin Playlist
One fun way to celebrate National Coq Au Vin Day might be to create a playlist of music that can set the mood for enjoying the day. Try out some of these songs to get a playlist started on Spotify, Apple music or some other music site:
- La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf (1947)
- Ne Me Quitte Pas by Jacques Brel (1959)
- J’ai Deux Amours by Madeleine Peyroux (2004)
- Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien by Edith Piaf (1959)
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