Sunday, November 4, 2007

Rotisserie Chicken

When I visited in Paris in 2005, I stayed at a small hotel in the Villier neighborhood where there was a daily street market a block away. At the street market, there were vendors selling rotisserie chicken with baby potatoes cooking on a tray directly beneath the roasting chicken. The smell was amazing. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to try them because I did not want to eat it in my hotel room.

Last weekend, I walked by this little charming french bistro called, Le Gamin Cafe on West Houston Street and saw the same rotisserie chicken with potatoes at the bottom cooking outside the restaurant. I was tempted to eat there but I had just came from dinner. Maybe next time.

So have you ever had these rotisserie chicken with roasted potatoes?

17 comments:

Lynette said...

I've had some mighty fine rotisserie chicken and some mighty fine roasted potatoes--fingerlings--cooked by my sons. They were not cooked like this, though, which I can practically taste!

• Eliane • said...

Yes, you have to try. It is a good address. I can smell that chicken from here! ;)

Kate said...

(Second try!) I used to buy and enjoy these chickens in local supermarkets. The method is not exactly the same. After roasted, the chickens are kept in a semi-open display case which is supposed to be temperature controlled. One of our newspapers did an expose of the method and revealed that most stores did not maintain the proper temperature for the roasted chickens to maintain a safe level for eating. I wish that we did have rotisserie chickens available since I doubt that that problem would exists. Guess I'll just have to wait 'til I get back to Mexico where I can enjoy them.

Elodie said...

As a French person I've had roast chicken and potatoes many many times. The potatoes taste of the chicken "juice" it's soooooo good !
Le Gamin is a nice café. I had lunch there once, my friend used to work there. If they have the rotisserie I would recommend having a go.

GMG said...

Try it with lemon or chili sauce... but only in case of absolute need! Sorry, not a chicken eater, unless...
Have a great sunday!
Gil
Blogtrotter

pusa said...

yes and they are really delicious but i haven't tasted potatoes like that, looks really delicious

Fénix - Bostonscapes said...

Yes, I have, both in France and my homemade version. I don't have a rotisserie, but for this dish you don't need one. All you need is a regular oven with two regular racks.

Step 1: Preheat the oven at 350 F. One rack in the middle, the other one just beneath.

Step 2: Put the potatoes in a large bowl. Season with salt and spices to your taste (I often use herbes de provence) and drizzle with oil. Mix well with your hands and transfer to a roasting pan.

Step 3: Season the chicken to your taste.

Step 4: Place the roasting pan with the potatoes in the oven, on the lower rack and place the seasoned chicken right on the top rack, yes, directly on the rack (careful, don't burn your hands!).

As the chicken bakes, the dripping fat bastes the potatoes below.

Easy peasy, isn't it? I hope you'll give it a try sometime.

Kunterbunt said...

Those chickens, yes, when I have no time to cook because of too much work. But you cannot buy roast potatoes, so I use to buy some 'baguettes'. - those chickens in the photo are already very brown; someone has to buy them soon. ;-)

Peter said...

You mention Paris, where I happen to live, so you may guess the answer to your question! (Quite easy to make at home also!)

isa said...

Oui, bien sûr!
(potatoes a bit greasy, but very tasty!)

Anonymous said...

I love the aroma of rotisserie chicken! That of Costco is already enough to tempt me...so what's from this bistro MUST be definitely good!

Todd HellsKitchen said...

If it was the same chicken that you saw in 2005 in Paris, I wouldn't eat it...

After two years, it will be dry and old... And it might not taste so good either...

Find a place that serves fresher chicken!

;)

sonia a. mascaro said...

Humm, looks delicious, Ming!

Great recipe, Fénix! Potatos on the lower rack and chicken right on the top rack! I will do it soon!

Unknown said...

Ah... They look delicious! Hmmm never seen ones with potatoes below, I guess the chicken oil that drips down will make it taste very very good!

I sometimes have the ones from supermarkets here.

Have you tried those in the Pasar Malams? Ayam Golek! It taste absolutely yummy too! Look at this: http://www.batupahat.org/?p=496

Anonymous said...

Ming, I feel like I'm following you are the city, eating chicken in your footsteps. I finally made the trip out to Jackson Heights to try a place you mentioned in a previous chicken post and you were 100% right. I'll wait for your review of these chickens, too.

Bel said...

OMG! HOW did I not see this???? I am a potato freak and these ones, I imagine, are deliciously crispy....well they certainly are in my mind!

Love this photo. I'm hungry :o(

Anonymous said...

i would like to start a business with this yummy and healthy chicken, but the rotesserie oven is a bit expensive.Anyway you have a very inspiring pic.