Pollo Alla Romano (Roman Chicken)

This is a very old peasant dish from Rome. Roman houeswives (domestic dictators rather than goddesses all too often) would make this dish every week. Typical of such dishes, it use low quality meat, wine and herbs to tenderise and give flavour and the dish is slow slow cooked -- traditionally prepared in the morning and left to simmer for several hours. When I first found it in the early 70's, the recipe had a rich sauce and this is the version I give here. However, in a back-street cafe in Rome last time I was there it was severed 'dry'. Either way it is a stunning dish. My wife claims that she fell in love with me when first I made it for her (truly a seductive recipe) and it is still her favourite from my repertoire. In keeping with its origins, this is best made from cheap cuts of chicken and not breast! This is my adaptation of the original.