Where have I been all my life? I never knew, until
PieLady mentioned it in another thread, that champagne chicken was even a thing. Since then, I've started testing, and so far, I think, it's real, and it's spectacular!
Well, to be honest, it's basically chicken in a tarragon cream sauce, which is a combination I already loved, based primarily on
Nigel Slater's recipe in his book,
The Kitchen Diaries. Between his recipe and
this Epicurious recipe I found online (and a few other versions I found online), I've got the basic idea, and now I'm trying to figure out my best version of it. For tonight's iteration, I used 1/4 of a bottle of prosecco that I got at Costco for $6.99. I saw the other day that Trader Joe's had prosecco for the same price.
I used heavy whipping cream and reduced the sauce, but I still wish I could make it thicker without having to add corn starch. I also think next time I'll make it with chicken thighs. I don't think that even bone-in split chicken breast can achieve the moistness and tenderness that thighs do.
ETA: My best friend from college reminds me that chicken in champagne cream sauce was served at her wedding reception, and as maid of honor, I was there and ought to remember, but that was who knows how many years ago!?!
"Your swimming suit matches your eyes, you hold your nose before diving, loving you has made me bananas!"