Grilled Chicken Cacciatore

I met my friend george for a few beers tonight and he had a few very nice Quail for me. While driving home I decided that I'd make Cacciatore with the quail. This is my recipe, it's wonderful even if you don't have a friend like George to add quail.

Grilled Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore roughly translates to 'Hunter's style chicken.' Originally this dish was called 'Caccatoria' which meant 'Hunter's wife's chicken,' in reference to the traditional hearty dish served the night before the hunt.

Grated fresh Romano cheese

1 Whole fresh chicken, cut up

Sauce

1/4 C Extra virgin olive oil

2 Medium white onions, peeled and chopped

6 CLOVES Garlic, peeled and minced

1 C Cabernet Sauvignon wine

3 C Plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and diced

3 C Beef broth

1 8-OZ CAN Tomato sauce

1/4 LB Italian brown mushrooms, rinsed and sliced

1/4 C Green olives, medium, pitted

Juice of 1/2 lemon

3 TBL Sweet butter

1/4 C Fresh Italian parsley, minced fine

1 Bay leaf

1 TSP Rosemary leaf, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

Garnish

1 TBL Fresh Italian parsley

1. Grill chicken over medium-high heat until outside is well-browned, but do not fully cook. In a large sautÈ pan, over medium high heat, heat oil.

2. Cook onions until soft; add garlic and cook a minute or two more, to release flavor into the oil. Add chicken and stir. Add wine and simmer until liquid reduces to almost nothing (Be careful not to burn).

3. Add tomatoes, 2C beef broth, tomato sauce, lemon juice, butter, herbs, salt and pepper. Simmer for at least 45 minutes, then add mushrooms, and olives. Simmer for 10 minutes more. As sauce reduces, replace liquid with beef broth a little at a time. Garnish with parsley and Romano cheese.

4. Serve with boiled potatoes or orzo.