The Need To Know Classic That Is: Coq au Vin

The person who first cooked something in wine had to have known they were onto something. While this technique can be traced back to Julius Caesar's day, coq au vin (literally chicken with wine) was perfected by the French, with a recipe for poulet au vin blanc, appearing in a cookbook as far back as 1864. This dish is so perfect an example of French cooking that it's little wonder Julia Child added it to her repertoire, and best of all, it is a dish that is dead simple to make. I recently made the recipe below for an anniversary dinner, and I highly recommend it for when you want to have a special dinner but you don't want to go out to eat.

Ingredients

1.8 kg chicken, cut into eight pieces, or eight chicken parts
710 mL red wine (use Burgundy if you're a traditionalist)
450 g pearl onions, peeled
330 g mushrooms (button mushrooms are normally used)
225 g lardons

• a lardon is a small strip or cube of fatty bacon, or pork fat. Pancetta can be used as a substitute; I used whatever bacon I had in the fridge

30 g butter
30 mL olive oil
at least 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1 bouquet garni

• a bouquet garni is a bunch of herbs tied up in cheesecloth used to season your food. Traditionally bay leaves, parsley, and thyme is used; I used what was in the "Mixed Herbs" packet I had in the cupboard

flour
salt and pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Put some flour in a large plastic zip-top bag, add the chicken, seal, and shake to cover the meat evenly. Heat the olive oil and the butter in a Dutch oven or casserole dish, and cook the chicken over high heat for five to six minutes until browned - depending on the size of your pan, this may require doing so in batches.
2. Remove the chicken when it has finished cooking and set the meat aside somewhere to keep warm. Cook the bacon in the same pan until it is crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan, add the onions and cook them for four to five minutes until they begin to brown. Pour in the wine and stir the contents to remove anything sticking to the sides and bottom of the cooking dish.
3. Place the chicken and the bacon back in the pot and add the garlic and the bouquet garni. Bring everything to a boil, cover, then place the dish in the centre of the oven for 75 minutes.
4. Add the mushrooms and let everything cook for another 15 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven, take out the chicken, bacon, mushrooms, and onions, and place them in a serving dish. The bouquet garni can be thrown out.
5. Return the cooking dish and its juices to low heat on the stove, and check to see if more salt and/or pepper is required, then bring to a rapid boil until the sauce is thick and glossy. Pour the sauce over the food and serve immediately on its own, or with crusty French bread, mashed or roasted potatoes or anything starchy to soak up the sauce.

Note: The above recipe was taken from "Cook's Bible" by Lorraine Turner, Parragon Books Ltd.

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Food Aphrodisiacs

People looking to get lucky on Valentine's Day or any other time of the year inevitably start thinking about aphrodisiacs. While there's no known food or drink that stimulates sexual desire (if there was, wouldn't you be eating more of it already?), we do know that certain foods can trigger chemical reactions in the brain to send a flood of happy hormones through the body, which is just as good. Here are some of the more common and uncommon ones:

Arugula - This spicy plant has always been trendy, as it's been considered an aphrodisiac since the first century A.D. It is rich in vitamins A and C, which are essential for sex hormone production. It also delivers many minerals and antioxidants that are important to put the body in its sexual prime. A good source of zinc (excellent for promoting good blood flow to the nether regions), as well as other sex-aiding minerals like magnesium and potassium, arugula is also said to help clear the mind, so while it won't raise you or your partner's sexual energy, it might put the two of you in the right mindset for romance - something to consider for the next salad you order or make.

Red wine - Alcohol has always helped people get to a warm place of relaxation. Red wine is good for vascular health; good blood flow means better orgasms; better orgasms mean better sex. And it's not like you weren't going to order some with your Valentine's dinner anyway. Just remember to enjoy in moderation.

Asparagus - Is having your pee smell funny worth a vegetable's aphrodisiac effect?  The Vegetarian Society says yes, recommending three straight days of asparagus nibbling for the best effects. This long, fibrous shaft is full of nutrients needed for healthy hormone production (vitamin E), and compounds found in asparagus (steroid glycosides) have been known for their ability to promote sexual hormones. It is also a source of folate, which is important for female reproductive health and for the health of sperm.

Maple syrup - There's another reason to head to the sugar bush this season. A great source of manganese (which fights free radicals and is essential to the health of the reproductive system), maple syrup is also a source of zinc, another element that aids in the blood flow (it's also important in the prevention of prostate cancer), and can give the body that quick fix of energy at a key moment.

Chilli peppers - Beyoncé has hot sauce in her bag for a reason. Hot peppers contain capsaicin, a chemical that gets the blood pumping to increases circulation and stimulate nerve endings. Just be careful where you're dabbing that stuff, as people have gone to the ER because they got carried away literally spicing things up in the bedroom.

Avocado - The name of this fruit comes from the Spanish word aguacate which ironically comes from the proto-Aztecan word for "testicle" due to the likeness between the fruit and the body part. While this does not mean the word "guacamole" translates to mean "testicle sauce", avocados do contain high levels of vitamin E and potassium which can help in maintaining a high energy level for any activities you care to indulge in.

Oysters - Like all foods of the sea, the oyster's aphrodisiac history can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. They believed Aphrodite, goddess of love, was born of the sea and that all ocean creatures retained some of her powers. Any amorous effect is probably more from the zinc the oysters contain, which is key for testosterone production. With their slightly salty/sweet scent so similar to a potent female pheromone, it's no surprise no less of an authority than Casanova himself allegedly consumed 50 of the bivalves each day to keep his libido up. Please note that there have been recent cases of acute gastrointestinal illness linked to oysters, so be mindful of a few bad hombres out there.

Mangoes - You've always wondered after seeing that "Seinfeld" episode, but there is some basis to the aphrodisiac allure of mango. With its juicy, fleshy texture, and natural sweetness, mangoes are good sources of vitamins A, C, and E, the sex vitamin, the key to virility - it moved for a reason.

Chocolate - Dark chocolate has been shown to cause a spike in dopamine, which induces feelings of pleasure. It also contains flavonoids, antioxidants similar to those found in green tea and red wine, and phenylethylamine, which releases a hormone that occurs during sexual intercourse. This may explain why a box of chocolates is the standard Valentine's Day gift, no matter how much of a cliche it has become.

Hemp - The aphrodisiac effects of hemp lay more in the area of cannabis and hashish, but hemp seeds are rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids, useful in improving mood, as well as a good source of vitamin E (aka the sex drug). As a friendly reminder, please remember that any other hemp delivery methods you know of may not be legal yet.

Ginkgo Biloba / Ginseng - People have been fascinated by ginkgo biloba and ginseng for centuries, with both claiming improvements in cognitive abilities and libido; it works on both heads if you will. Ginkgo supposedly increases blood flow to the brain as well as to the nether regions, along with increasing dopamine and adrenaline. Along with being phallic, ginseng root is commonly used as a healing agent to treat fatigue, reduce stress, fight infection and cure impotence. Stamina and quick bursts of energy are useful in any horizontal jogging; your results may vary.