French Food TraditionsChapon de Bresse (Capon)

A Chapon de Bresse is considered one of pinnacles of French cuisine. A Chapon – capon in English is a castrated rooster that is fattened to almost double the size of a regular rooster. A Chapon de Bresse is often eaten at Christmas and Easter.

The Bresse region is known throughout France for its fine poultry. So when you combine the Bresse region and a Chapon this means a specialty that is relished when eaten.

A Chapon de Bresse is sold with its head and is sometimes tightly wrapped in a cloth when cooked to keep in the juices, resulting in more flavors.

There is also Poularde de Bresse, a hen that like the rooster is fattened to a large size and is also a specialty.

Here’s a Chapon de Bresse for sale in a French supermarket. The price is 40€ per kilo, about $25 per pound.

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