It’s the 3rd Day of Christmas and we are receiving 3 French Hens. Stopping to think, I am forced to ask myself, why a French Hen? Why not an Italian Hen, or a Japanese Hen, or even a Brazilian Hen?
Searching for this answer led me to what is known, in culinary circles, as the undisputed King of Chickens
The Poulet de Bresse; a highly valued breed of chicken raised on small farms, in a small area of Eastern France, under very strict and exacting standards.
The farms are located near the Lyon area, of France. They get their name from the Bresse area of the Rhône-Alpes region of France. The Poulet de Bresse were the first livestock to be protected under both French and European law. This status of quality preserves the flavor of the meat, which is enhanced by the local soil and grain, fed to the chickens. These are the ultimate organic and free range animals, with a minimum of 10 square meters, allocated for each bird.
Aside from their unique quality of meat, the Poulet de Bresse are known for having very blue feet. Their average weight is approximately 2kg.
That’s about 4 1/2 pounds, for my readers in the United States, Liberia and Myanmar.
Cost wise, the Poulet de Brusse runs about £16.00/kg. Today, £1 = $25.79 USD. So, a French Hen would run about $52 USD, give or take some change. Three French Hens would cost approximately $156 USD, or £96, or even €118.51 + plus tax.
In a Biblical sense, the 3 French Hens represent The 3 Magi and the 3 Gifts they brought to Jesus.
At the Minefield, the 3rd day of Christmas, is dedicated to a someone who I try not to worship, but with whom I will admit to having a bit of an obsession. Yes, Day 3 is for Eddie Vedder. Hope you enjoy 3 of my favorite pictures of my favorite singer and songwriter (and let me tell you – choosing only 3 was extremely diffucult!)
