POULE AU POT:The

POULE AU POT:The FrenchNational Dish?A classic French meal fit for a king - andeveryone else says Ally Mitchell.You’ll be pushed to find a French persontoday who would passionately declarepoule au pot as the country’s nationaldish. Thanks to France’s presence on theworld’s culinary stage, its 650 Michelin-starrestaurants as well as its controversial loveof McDo, the country’s tastes have evolvedin various directions. And yet, this simple andsomewhat beige chicken-in-broth maintainsits antiquated status, a tribute to the country’srustic cuisine long before it became known forits culinary reputation.The story of poule au pot starts in Pau, insouthwestern France, a city famous forthis chicken dish and as the birthplace ofits alleged originator, le Bon Roi Henri –otherwise known as Henry VI, King of Francefor 21 years bridging the 16th and 17thcenturies. Good King Henry has gone downin history for his benevolence. It turns out thishas partially been propaganda, indoctrinatingschool children throughout the years withcartoons of his friendly kind character. Everywinter, Pau celebrates “La Poule au Pot estreine” (The chicken in a pot is queen), withhistory lessons focusing on this good king.What children possibly aren’t taught is that hisother nickname was “le Vert Galant” – the OldCharmer – thanks to his womanising ways.In the mid-1500s, the War of Religion torethe country apart as the Huguenots struggledfor their right to worship after years of brutalsuppression. Henry of Bourbon was the heirto the Kingdom of Navarre which occupiedlands on either side of the Pyrenees. Thefamily were Huguenots and thanks to tacticalmarriage alliances, a brilliant victory in battle,and a little assassination, he was crownedHenry VI in 1589. Immediately he grantedthe Huguenots freedom to worship, then laterconverted to Catholicism, bringing peace,albeit for a short time, to France.For this and many of his progressive policies,he has been upheld as one of France’s best,most popular monarchs, particularly whenPoster for the 2025 Poule au pot est reine event in Pau © Pau Tourismcompared to his infamous descendants. Hemodernised and restored cities, promotededucation and the arts, supported domesticagriculture, and – most importantly, at least tothis topic – endorsed cooking chicken.In Pau, chicken was a common food source -accessible and cheap. And, after years of warand famines, Good King Henry famously said:“God willing, I will ensure that every lastploughman in my kingdom has the means toensure that, once a week, he has a chicken inhis pot.”His goal was to restore the well-being of hispeople, starting with democracy via theirstomachs, and he allegedly imposed thatpoule au pot be known as the national dish, astroke of marketing genius for his legacy.However… Good King Henry may or may nothave actually said this iconic line. The quotedtext was written 50 years after his death,which brings into question why his generosityover poule au pot stands the test of time.80 | The Good Life FrancePoule au pot © Ally MitchellThe Good Life France | 81