Drowned in Butter: Chicken Ala Kiev

Chicken Ala Kiev, or simply Chicken Kiev, owes its name to the Ukranian capital, which boasts of being the birthplace of this culinary dream. This claim has not gone uncontested and some Russians have alleged that it were they who first perfected the recipe. These debates notwithstanding, Chicken Ala Kiev remains one of the most popular dishes worldwide. 


If you are looking for Chicken Ala Kiev in Calcutta, come straight to the headquarters of continental food in the city -- Park Street. There are a handful of joints that serve the dish here. But my recommendation is One Step Up. The more famous place of continental food here, Mocambo, serves the dish as well, but I found the stuffing too dry for my liking. The one at One Step Up, on the other hand, is perfect. And by all means, order some white wine. It complements the dish quite brilliantly.


The dish consists of a hollow cylinder, tapering at both ends, made of chicken and continental spices. The cylinder is deep fried, thereby giving it a brown and crispy crust. The cavity inside is filled entirely with liquid butter. The dish is served with potato mash and boiled beans and peas. As soon as one cuts the thing with the knife, warm yellow butter gushes out of it and inundates the plate. Now all you have to do is dig into the chicken, roll it on the butter and put it in your mouth. The combined taste of chicken, the fried crust and the oozing butter is, well, for the lack of a better phrase, devastatingly delicious!