Chicken thighs and drumsticks are browned and then braised in Brown Mustard veal demi glace sauce. The collagen in the veal demi coats the chicken with such a thick glaze that it makes your lips stick together. Sticky Lips Chicken is a flavorful treat.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Marczyk Fine Foods lately, so talked the hubby into leaving our suburban bubble for a Saturday morning field trip into the city for a visit. The mission?… to make their Sticky Lips Chicken recipe.
Marczyk Fine Foods is at Clarkson and 17th just east of Downtown Denver. With easy parking, a fine wine department and the smells of exotic spices and simmering foods wafting as we went in the front door, I knew I was going to love this place.
A stack of beautiful corn tortillas made just for the store stacked in front of the meat counter. The label indicates these were not made by gringos. I bought some.
We found this small neighborhood market filled with specialty gourmet food items, fresh seafood, organic produce, gourmet cheeses, exotic stuffed olives, an impressive meat counter that includes Niman Ranch products and a deli area offering house made sandwiches and prepared food items.
Every item in the store is obviously chosen for quality. If I hadn’t already been on a Sticky Lips Chicken mission, I would have purchased some delicious looking crab stuffed sole that I watched one of the chefs sprinkling with vibrant red smoked paprika.
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I had seen this recipe for Sticky Lips Chicken in my new Colorado Classique Cookbook. The recipe called for a slice of frozen veal demi glace which I had never seen anywhere and was available at their market. With my sack filled with items I have never seen, such as wild boar sausage, New York style split buns, and that frozen veal stock, we headed back South to prepare that chicken for dinner.
This is simply, and surprisingly delicious and I fully credit the impressive flavors to good quality chicken,
Oregon Pinot Gris, hinting of melon and peach,
and that rich flavored frozen roasted veal stock
So here’s the recipe for Marczyk’s Sticky Lips Chicken
Salt and pepper chicken pieces and brown in a heavy pan in butter. Remove and set aside.
Sweat 2 sliced shallots in the pan and deglaze the pan with a dry white wine. Add a dollop of good quality brown mustard and several sprigs of tarragon.
Add chicken back in along with a little more wine, a slice of frozen veal stock and some quality sherry vinegar to make a nice braising liquid for the chicken.
Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Serve over buttery egg noodles.
Marczyk owner, Pete says this delicious braised chicken gets its name from the veal demi used in the sauce, adding that the collagen makes your lips stick together.
Chicken thighs and legs are browned and then braised in a luxurious veal demi glace, brown mustard sauce.
- 3 pounds skin-on chicken legs thighs and drumsticks separated
- 1/4 cup canola oil or crisco shortening
- 3 large shallots peeled and sliced
- ½ cup brown mustard
- 1 cup white wine
- 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or any other wine-based vinegar
- ¼ pound veal demi-glace Bonewerks CulinArte is recommended
- 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon chopped
- Salt and pepper
Liberally salt and pepper the chicken. In a large non-stick fry pan brown the chicken in oil over medium heat, about 10 minutes per side. Remove and let drain on paper towels.
Drain off all but about 2 tablespoons of fat. Lightly brown the shallots over medium heat. Add the mustard, wine, sherry, veal demi-glace and fresh tarragon leaves, and stir. Add the chicken and the sauce to a Dutch oven. Cover with enough water to bring the liquid about halfway up the sides of the chicken. Stir once, cover and cook in a 350ºF oven for 1 hour until chicken is golden. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, noodles or polenta.
Chris says
January 17, 2010 at 8:41 pmI like the frozen veal stock. I haven’t seen that but will have to check out Earth Fare and Fresh Market.
I was thinking it would yield more sauce, was it just enough to coat the chicken or were you just going light on the sauce in the plated picture. I’m just a sauce hound and was thinking how good the extra would be on the noodles.
leaannbrown says
January 17, 2010 at 9:03 pmChris, The no sauce in the picture wasn’t planned. I took the picture, sat down, took a few bites and realized I hadn’t spooned any sauce over the dinner. A-duh. I’m not one to remake something just for a perfect picture. So I guess this picture is saying “It’s cold in here, can’t you warm me up with some of that sauce”. 🙂 Thanks Chris
Velva says
January 17, 2010 at 9:58 pmWhat an awesome market to visit in the city!!! I really like the idea of frozen veal stock. I need to keep my eyes open in case I pass it in the store.
The sticky lips chicken looks delicious!
leaannbrown says
January 18, 2010 at 1:02 pmThanks Velva!
noble pig says
January 17, 2010 at 11:54 pmI’ve got veal demi glace in the fridge at all times. I get mine from Williams-Sonoma. I think this is the best named dish EVER!
leaannbrown says
January 18, 2010 at 1:01 pmThanks Cathy. I need to pay more attention to those WS products.
My Year on the Grill says
January 18, 2010 at 12:56 amit sounds terrific… But I am guessing I would blow my weekly food budget in the first aisle
leaannbrown says
January 18, 2010 at 1:00 pmDave, I can’t believe I got out of there for under $40
Vickie says
January 18, 2010 at 3:03 amWow – what a great post! I love the market and the chicken. I will have to enjoy it vicariously, since there is NO WAY i will find this up here. (sigh) May I request this when I make it to Denver for a visit? 🙂
leaannbrown says
January 18, 2010 at 12:59 pmVickie, you could use some chicken stock, it just won’t be as “rich”. And yes, it will be on the menu when you get to dinner! As always, thanks for stopping by
Zia Liz says
January 18, 2010 at 3:51 amThis looks divine! It definitely goes on my ‘must try soon’ list.
leaannbrown says
January 18, 2010 at 12:56 pmIt’s wonderful. Hope you try it and like it. Thanks Liz
Barbara says
January 18, 2010 at 11:20 amThis place reminds me of a great market/deli in Birmingham, Michigan called Papa Joe’s. Why we don’t have something like this in my area I can’t imagine. Whole Foods just doesn’t compare.
Anyway, I love, love this recipe. Perfect name! The flavors in the braising sauce are just right. Copying the recipe now….
leaannbrown says
January 18, 2010 at 1:04 pmI wish it were closer to home. I’ll most certainly be making the trip downtown for more visits.
Chilebrown says
January 18, 2010 at 3:11 pmThat sure looks Yummy! Just a quick question. How xome you used an Oregon wine v Co. wine? I have had Erath Pinot Gris and it is good.
Linda says
January 18, 2010 at 5:24 pmLooks great! I love to try new things… and this might just be one of them!
leaannbrown says
January 18, 2010 at 9:57 pmIt’s really good Linda. That veal stock really makes a difference in a rich flavor.
BD, I agree, I have to be careful with the wallet in those little specialty food markets.
buffalo dick says
January 18, 2010 at 5:48 pmThose kind of markets are dangerous! I want to buy everything!
anncoo says
January 18, 2010 at 1:28 pmThanks for sharing this beautiful dish. I love chicken, so this will be in my to do list.
Katy says
January 18, 2010 at 10:55 pmWhat can I say? I am a hick; never heard of veal demi glace and I don’t think I’ve ever even seen it offered in our little store. (sad face) Love the title of this recipe though, and now feel a gap in my life because this looks good.
leaannbrown says
January 20, 2010 at 1:23 pmKaty, I had never heard of it either but sure am glad I learned about it. It’s really good stuff.
Natashya says
January 18, 2010 at 5:08 pmWhat a great market! And the chicken looks delish. I wish we had frozen demi glace here!
leaannbrown says
January 18, 2010 at 9:58 pmOne of my other readers said you can buy veal stock in a jar from Williams and Sonoma
sherri says
January 19, 2010 at 1:38 amYum! Sounds wonderful and I’d love to visit that place!
donna says
January 19, 2010 at 12:35 pmWhat a gorgeous dish. I must get/make some frozen veal stock, Ive been seeing that a lot lately on some blogs. Sounds amazing, truly.
Katherine says
January 19, 2010 at 4:10 pmBefore I comment on the chicken…I saw Zapp’s Potato Chips in this store in your 3rd picture…I miss them so much and stock up when i go home. I haven’t been able to get them here, but you can get them in Denver…what the heck!!
Your chicken is divine! I’d love to be able to find any thing veal here. I wonder how i could adapt this and to it justice using what we have available here.
leaannbrown says
January 20, 2010 at 1:21 pmI did notice those potato chips. I’ll have to pick some up next time I’m in that store. Thanks for stopping by.
Marguerite says
January 20, 2010 at 1:42 amLooks like a very nice market! I love specialty food stores. And the chicken dish is fabulous! Great photos and recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Joanne says
January 19, 2010 at 7:26 pmWow that chicken dish looks beautiful! You couldn’t ask for a more complete meal.
That specialty store looks amazing! I wouldn’t be able to be trusted inside…whether I was on a mission or not.
Cathy at Wives with Knives says
January 20, 2010 at 2:37 pmI love markets like this one. It’s fun to just browse and find new things you had no idea you needed. What a great name for a chicken dish. The veal stock must add lots of flavor. I’m partial to dark meat so this dish is perfect for my taste. Nice post.