Chicken Francese Near You

What is Chicken Francese?

Chicken Francese is a dish in Italian-American cuisine. It consists of sautéed chicken cutlets and a sauce. The sauce itself is a combination of lemon butter and white wine.

Before the cooking starts, the chicken cutlets are coated in flour and soaked in eggs. Afterward, they are pan-fried in (olive) oil.

In Rochester, New York, and its surroundings, Chicken Francese is a very famous dish. It is also known as Chicken French. And many have suggested that its name actually gets changed to Chicken Rochester.

Where did Chicken Francese originate?

What's interesting is that despite its status, Chicken Francese isn't a traditional food per se. That's because there aren't any official recipes to indicate its origin.

Still, let's take a look at the existing information about the history of this dish.

First, as mentioned earlier, Chicken Francese is an Italian-American food. Apparently, it was brought to America i.e. Rochester by Italian immigrants who had recipes for Veal Francese. However, since it was less expensive, they soon started using chicken as a substitute for veal.

Another belief is that Veal Francese was popular around Rochester in the 1950s and 1960s. That is, after World War II. But when customers boycotted veal in the 1970s, local chefs looked for a solution.

Thus, James Cianciola who was working at the Brown Derby restaurant decided to use chicken instead. He stated that cooks Tony Mammano and Joe Cairo were the ones to bring the dish from New York City.

As for why it was called Francese or French, that may be due to status. See, when the Italians first immigrated to America, our country was still fairly new. And people associated France with class. So, even though the dish was Italian, calling it French could be a way to make it appear fancy.

Moreover, the sauce for Chicken Francese seems to have been inspired by French culinary techniques. So, that is another possible explanation as to why it was named like that.

Any other Chicken Francese fun facts?

Sure thing, here is some cool bonus info about Chicken Francese:

• Back in 2018, the New York Times proclaimed Chicken Francese as the most popular recipe of the year.
• The Chicken Francese sauce is also a great addition to pasta, garlic bread, steamed vegetables, Jasmine rice, and others.
• Even though wine is the "official" ingredient of the Chicken Francese sauce, sherry could be used as well.
• Nate Cianciola, another cook from Rochester, published the book "Frenching Food Italian Style" in 2006. It is a collection of recipes that made Brown Derby a renowned restaurant. And of course, the recipe for Veal French is featured, too.

What are some Chicken Francese variants?

Well, one typical alternative to Chicken Francese is Artichokes French. This dish is made with artichoke hearts as a substitute for chicken cutlets. And it is usually offered as an appetizer.

In addition, there is a Vegan Chicken Francese. For this one, tofu is used to replace the chicken. And it's a great option for those on a vegan diet who'd like to enjoy this Francese dish.

How many calories are in Chicken Francese?

A single piece of Chicken Francese (including the sauce) contains about 530 calories.

This includes 29g of total fat which makes for 45% of the daily value for a 2000-calorie diet. There are also 305mg of cholesterol (102%), 738mg of sodium (31%), and 471mg of potassium (13%). And the amount of total carbohydrates and protein is 15g (5%) and 46g respectively.

Furthermore, we got 16% of vitamin A, 20% of vitamin C, and 6% of calcium.

Where can I find Chicken Francese near me?

Even though Chicken Francese is associated with Rochester, you can get this dish all across the country.

Hence, if you're in Las Vegas, we recommend Trattoria Italia. You can find them on S Eastern Ave and enjoy some outstanding Chicken Francese there. What's great is they are open 7 days a week. But you can also order takeout or delivery via the Slice app and even get 10% off.

Next, we have to mention Italian Express - a fantastic restaurant in Philadelphia. Located on W Girard Ave, they offer mouthwatering Chicken Francese. Using only the freshest ingredients available, you simply can't go wrong with their food. So, make sure to check out their menu and keep in mind they also have deals and coupons available.

Needless to say, if you're in any other place, just consult the listings on this page. That way, you can easily find a restaurant near you that serves delicious Chicken Francese.