Bistro Chicken: 100 Easy Yet Elegant Recipes with French Flair (Paperback)

by Mary Ellen Evans (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this well-focused book, Evans gets a lot of mileage out of a simple idea: the delicious roast chickens of France. Modern France, that is several of these recipes reflect the more integrated France of today, such as Vietnamese Chicken and Rice Noodle Salad and a North African-influenced Chicken Bisteeya. The bulk of the dishes, however, are along the lines of Classic Roast Chicken with Fries and Coq au Vin. That's not to say that Evans doesn't have original ideas: juicy Chicken Roasted with Whiskey and Shallots is a concept whose time has come, and even simple recipes for boneless breasts, like Chicken Cutlets with Capers, are carefully recorded and accompanied by helpful tips, like the suggestion of salted capers over those in brine. Chapters are organized by preparation, with stews such as Chicken Fricasee with Basil Cream and Chicken Bouillabaisse grouped together. Another on lighter luncheon fare and appetizers offers Smoked Tea Poached Chicken (Evans re-creates a blend from the swank Paris tea shop Mariage Freres) and a Croque Monsieur Sandwich with Chicken. A final chapter of egg dishes is full of clever concepts, such as a savory Curried Chicken Clafouti and gently poached Burgundy Eggs in a Red Wine Sauce.
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Review
"A 'must-have' for every kitchen, Bistro Chicken serves up our favorite food with a charming French accent. Filled with flavor and flair, the recipes are accessible, easy, and fun to make. Personally, I'm grateful that Mary's years of living and traveling in France have inspired her to share this wealth of ideas, trucs, and tips. Her mouth-watering descriptions of the foods are evocative and as colorful as the out-of-the way bistros where she discovered them. A longtime cooking school director and teacher, Mary has the palette of a food professional, but also the practical understanding and knowledge to simplify techniques for home cooks. When I sat down to my first bowl of Mary's aromatic Chicken and Garlic Soup, I was instantly transported to the corner table of my favorite Parisian bistro. The addition of a glass of wine, a crusty baguette, and her magically moist (and so easy to make) Tarragon Chicken completed the picture. I could almost hear the rain outside the curtained window, and voices at the zinc bar behind me. Since Clafoutis with fresh fruit is one of my favorite desserts, I can't wait to try Mary's ingenious savory variation with curried chicken. This is a book I will use often!"
--Susan G. Purdy, author of The Perfect Pie and The Perfect Cake


Mary Ellen Evans's book BISTRO CHICKEN is a wonderful collection of recipes inspired by her travels to France and elsewhere. Try a Croque Monsieur with Chicken for a truly great lunch sandwich or her unconventional Chicken Rillettes as the start of a wonderful bistro meal, or my favorite, Chicken with Garlic. There's something here for everyone and every occasion.
-- Gordon Hamersley, author of Bistro Cooking at Home -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (February 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767913787
• ISBN-13: 978-0767913782
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #301,645 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Eating, July 23, 2006

By	Jim Arlandson "Jim" (Sarasota, FL) - See all my reviews

I love cookbooks, I love to cook, and I love to eat. Bistro Chicken delivers on all accounts. Not only are the recipes creative but the instructions are easy to follow. More importantly, every dish I've tried has been delicious.

Now, whenever I'm going to cook chicken, I go to Bistro Chicken for something new, creative, and delicious.

Buy this book,you'll be happy you did.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great chicken recipes, July 18, 2006

By	hester reik "booklover" (w. hartford, ct) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book at my bookstore about a month ago. I have tried several of the recipes and they are easy to do and delicious. The paella, the chicken with carmelized onions are the most recent ones.
The ingredients are (usually) easy to get, the recipes simple to follow and the results are wonderful. Highly recommend.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tasty chicken!!, February 8, 2009

By	Pamela A. Buckman - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been using and using this book and even ordered one for a daughter -- it's that good. I haven't made a recipe from it yet that wasn't just great. The vinegar chicken is now a family favorite. Ditto the whiskey and shallot chicken. Low fat these recipes, for the most part, are not; full of flavor these recipes are. I highly recommend this book for anyone who eats chicken, those who are getting bored with eating chicken and especially those who are eating so much chicken they're afraid they'll begin cackling!