Comfort Chicken

Kristina’s Bookshelf

Maybe it’s the time of year and the cold, rainy weather, but roasted chicken recipes are sounding awfully good these days. Whole chickens are easy to cook and offer the added benefit of leftover bones that can be used to make stock for soup.

Purchase this book

Poulets & Legumes:
My Favorite Chicken & Vegetable Recipes
by Jacques Pépin
(Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018)

Well-known French cooking teacher and chef Jacques Pépin shares his favorite chicken and vegetable recipes in his latest cookbook: a simple volume charmingly illustrated with Pépin’s paintings. All the recipes and even some of the drawings have appeared previously in Pépin’s cookbooks, which is okay, because at 82 years old, he’s probably perfected all his recipes by now, making it something of a greatest hits collection. Headnotes to most of the recipes include tips for preparing the dishes, but Pépin does not include glossaries, equipment lists, or even a forward explaining why he wrote this book. Still, it’s a satisfying little volume of classic recipes for 29 chicken main dishes and 39 vegetable side dishes. Try Roast Split Chicken with Mustard Crust, Chicken Diable (made with tomato puree, tarragon, and Tabasco sauce), and Chicken with Cognac Sauce. Side dishes include combinations like Peas and Fennel with Lardons, Green Beans with Mustard and Cream Dressing, and Asparagus Topped with Bread Crumbs and Egg. All the recipes involve just a few steps and not too many ingredients. They are easy enough to prepare on a weeknight and elegant enough to serve to guests. 

Meet Jacques Pépin
Book Signing & Recipe Tastings
Poulets & Légumes: My Favorite Chicken & Vegetable Recipes
Thursday April 19, 1–3:30pm
Market Hall Foods in Rockridge
5655 College Ave, Oakland

Please note: Due to the limited duration of this event and Jacques’ popularity, priority for book signing will be given to those purchasing books. If time permits, it’s possible but not guaranteed that he could also sign his older cookbooks. This event is open to the public. No charges except for purchases. Info: here

Edible East Bay’s book editor Kristina Sepetys is eager to share her ideas and book recommendations with our readers.