The skinny on chickens, from Julia Child and Mark Schatzker
"Chickens have no flavor. They taste more like teddy bear stuffing than like chickens before World War II. That is why one has to use so many seasonings." (JC)
"Chickens are the best example of how food systems have made food more bland and less flavorful." (MK)
"If your meat lacks flavor it’s probably because what it was fed had no flavor." (MK)
"Free ranged chickens have much longer shelf lives because of the grasshoppers they eat." (MK)
"Label Rouge are the best tasting chickens in the world." (MK) Label Rouge is a French designation for chickens raised in the Sarthe, Landes and Gascogne regions. They must be raised outdoors, be at least 81 days old at slaughter (most U.S. chickens are killed at 42-49 days) and eat a particular diet. More than $1 billion of Label Rouge chickens are eaten each year in France. In America, the sixth generation Amish farm La Belle Patrimoine produces chickens to the same standards. They are sold at Whole Foods stores.
Weekend deals
• Masao (512 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) is now serving lunch Wednesday through Saturday.
• Amruth (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive) will have chicken among 20 dishes on their new Saturday and Sunday buffet, noon to 4 p.m. Of course, there will be dosas, too.
• The marvelous Sales Barn Cafe in Lamoni will be open this Saturday even without an auction. They will open to serve Graceland homecoming guests. Breakfast only featuring eggs Benedict.
• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) has a meat loaf with mashed potatoes and gravy Friday special, $13.50.
• Hy-Vee Market Grilles offer a Friday special chicken enchilada with rice dinner for $8. They do rib dinners Saturday and Sunday for $15.
• Waterfront stores' Saturday special includes cocktail shrimp or raw oysters on the half shell for half price until 4 p.m.
• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) does Saturday and Sunday brunch buffets for $24.99 for adults. Kids 6 and younger eat free.
• The Station on Ingersoll has a Friday special patty melt: burger, pepper jack cheese, grilled onions, thousand island dressing on marble rye, served with tator tots $14
• Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) has a Friday special chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy for $10.
• Rube's steakhouses offer a prime sirloin special on Sundays only, $29.
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $9 Philly cheesesteaks or hot honey chicken plus $8 biscuit and gravy breakfasts on Fridays.
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) offers walleye or steak dinner specials tonight and karaoke after 9 p.m. They have a 10 for $10 wings deal on Sundays.
• Friday is Soul Food day at Joppa Experience (1829 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) with fried chicken and oxtail stew joining the usual menu.
• Jethro's Sunday special is papa cheeseburgers and side for $9.95. Today they have BBQ melt and side deal for $9.95.
• G Mig's has Friday prime rib dinners for $29.75 or crab-stuffed shrimp with rice and asparagus in lime buerre blanc for $25.95. Saturday's special is green chile enchiladas with guac, rice and beans for $18.50.
• Django (1420 Locust St., Des Moines) offers a Sunday supper with a roasted half chicken as the main course. The meal includes house salad with red onion, apple, Roquefort, and candied walnuts; fresh baguette with whipped butter; roasted fingerling potatoes with fresh herbs; and sautéed haricot verts with caramelized onions and lardons. $30
• Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) features a Saturday tasting menu for $58.
• Heavenly Asian (225 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has an all-day Friday sale on orange chicken served with soup, crab Rangoon, egg roll and rice, $14, available for dine-in and phone carry-out.
• Fish Fry Friday specials can be found at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale), Johnny's Italian Steakhouses, Red Lobster (3838 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines), Cracker Barrel (11701 University, Clive), Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines) and Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines).
• Bawarchi (6630 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines) has Friday-Sunday specials on paneer kebabs, chicken curry and goat curry.
• Westown Tap (3530 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines) offers $12 flatbreads on Fridays.
• Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) offers BBQ beef and marinated roast beef sandwiches on special for Friday lunch.
• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a $40 prime rib dinner special Friday and Saturday.
• Court Avenue Brewing Company (309 Court Ave., Des Moines) hosts Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffets for $23.99.
• Haiku (1350 31st St., Des Moines) offers free tom ka kai and fried won tons with lunch entrees today.
• Maxie's Supper Club's (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) Friday special is chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes - $16.95 all day. They also have prime rib dinners on Friday and Saturday for dinner only, $30-38.
• Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on baby bellas at $1.29/half-pound package, white grapes at $1.29/pound and pumpkins at $3.99.
• Fareways have specials through Saturday on mandarins at $3.88/3-pound bag, bacon wrapped half pound USDA Choice sirloins at $5.88, and russet potatoes at $2.99/3-pound bag.
• Price Choppers have sales on red, green or black grapes at $1.99/pound, Bartlett pears at $1.49/pound and pollock frozen filets at $3.49/pound through Monday.
• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) has a sale on red, green or black grapes at $1.49/pound, avocados at six for $1.99, and 16-20 per pound jumbo shrimp at $4.99/pound.
• Hy-Vee stores have sales on Jiffy corn muffin mix at 68 cents a box, Haagen Daaz at $3.98/14 ounces, and 6-inch autumn mums at $14.99 through Sunday.
Music
John Krantz Trio plays Louie's Wine Dive (4040 University Ave., Des Moines) on Sunday at 5 p.m... El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m... Willie James Shay plays Sonny’s Pizza Bistro Friday at 5:30 p.m... Neva Alden play Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m. Friday... David Watson will be at Caffrey’s Irish Pub, Waukee, Friday at 2 p.m. Fred Gazzo Quintet plays Anna Dolce Ristorante, WDM at 6 p.m. Saturday... Marc Bailey is at Winterset Cidery Sunday at 2 p.m... Willie Shay plays Simon’s at 7 p.m. Friday.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com | 
