Coq au vin — rooster in wine — is one of those dishes that sounds fancy but started as peasant cooking. A tough old bird, past its prime, slow-braised until tender in wine with bacon, mushrooms, and pearl onions.
This week, we trace the dish from Julius Caesar's alleged power play against a Gallic chief to Julia Child's 1961 cookbook that made it a global sensation. We debate whether the "vin" must be red (spoiler: there are regional riffs with Riesling, yellow wine, even Champagne), explore why marinating overnight is non-negotiable, and talk through the butchery if you're breaking down a whole bird.
The cocktail: The Queen of Cocktails — a Mezcal Pechuga highball inspired by the surprising connection between cock ale, the cocktail's etymology, and pechuga's ceremonial distillation. It's a story you'll want to hear.
Premium subscribers get the full recipe card with quantities, techniques, and the cocktail specs. Head to saucedpodcast.com to sign up.
Follow us on Instagram: @sauced.pod
Thanks to all of this week's partners:
El Acabo Raicilla: https://pkgdgroup.com/#our_brands
Underberg: https://underbergamerica.com/
