Le Bernadin. Coq au Vin, Zucchini au Gratin, tin,tin,tin

Crazy couple months, with my parents visiting, cousins visiting, market, Sookie - our new kitten, Hurricane Earl, fire on our street and assorted other minor inconveniences. We needed a quiet weekend, some home cooking and to spend some time with our neighbors. M and M came over for dinner and Mrs. M is a Francophile so we decided to do a traditional french meal. It was wonderful, an early fall day and having Coq au Vin simmering on the stove all day. We had early peak and the leaves were gorgeous. I love the fall. It was a tin, tin, tin kind of meal. Tim made Coq au Vin from Le Bernadin, with Zucchini au Gratin and an Apple Tartin. Yum! M and M went home full and a smile on their faces and we had some yummy leftovers.

Coq Au Vin

2 whole (3 pound) chickens

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup canola oil

1 slice smoked bacon( optional) cut into 1-inch pieces

1 cup finely chopped celery

1 cup finely chopped carrot

1 cup finely chopped onion

4 cloves garlic, sliced

6 ounces white button mushrooms, trimmed and chopped

2 (750ml) bottles red wine ( yum)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 cup brandy

2 sprigs fresh thyme

2 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 bay leaf

Fresh Egg Noodles

1. Remove giblets and neck from chicken and set aside. Rinse both chickens under cold water. Place one whole chicken, breast side down, on a cutting board. Using poultry scissors, cut along each side of the back bone, making sure to remove ribcage. Spread chicken open and cut through the center of the breast bone to separate chicken into halves. Place each half skin side up; remove wings at the joint where they are attached to the breast. Separate leg and thigh from breast, cut to separate. Repeat process with second chicken. Transfer breasts and legs to refrigerator.

2. Place backs, wings, and necks ( if included) in a large saucepan; add 8 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat; immediately reduce heat to a low simmer. Simmer for 2 hours, skimming impurities from the top as stock cooks. Strain stock through a fine mesh sieve into a large container; discard solids. Stock can be made up to 1 day ahead and kept refrigerated until ready to use.

3. Remove chicken pieces from refrigerator and season with salt and pepper. Dust chicken lightly with flour. Heat canola oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Working batches, add chicken and cook, turning, until golden brown and crisp on all sides. Remove chicken from pot and set aside.

4. Drain all but 1 tablespoon oil from pot. Add bacon, if using and cook until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp. Add celery, carrot, onion, garlic, and mushrooms; cook stirring, until lightly carmelized 5 to 7 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, add wine to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-heat. Let boil for 4 minutes.

6. Add 2 tablespoons flour and tomato paste to pot with vegetable mixture. Add brandy to deglaze and return chicken to pot along with heated wine. 2 cups of the chicken stock (reserve any remaining chicken stock for another use), thyme, parsley, bay leaf. Bring liquid to a boil and immediately reduce heat to low, simmer until chicken is tender and begins to fall of f the bone, about 2 hours.

7. Carefully remove chicken from liquid and set aside; remove bacon and discard. Bring liquid to a boil; immediately reduce to a simmer. Let simmer until liquid is thickened and reduced by half. Return chicken to pot; season with salt and pepper. Serve with egg noodles.