NATIONAL CHICKEN CORDON BLEU DAY
Each year on April 4th, National Chicken Cordon Bleu Day celebrates a blue ribbon dish that combines chicken, ham, and cheese.
#ChickenCordonBleuDay
The French term Cordon Bleu translates to “Blue Ribbon.” This dish is a take on the popular Veal Cordon Bleu. It is a flattened chicken breast that is wrapped around ham (or sometimes prosciutto or Canadian bacon) and cheese such as Swiss or Gruyere. Toothpicks hold the chicken together before being dipped in an egg wash and breaded.
The earliest recipe we were able to find was in a March 1964 printing of the Cincinnati Enquirer by the Cincinnati Gourmet Stanley Demos. Despite some misconceptions, it is an American dish. Demos mentions in his column that he got the idea to try chicken instead of veal “to be different.” It has been a popular dish since.
HOW TO OBSERVE CHICKEN CORDON BLEU DAY
- Make chicken cordon bleu or a variation on the theme. Several recipes offer lighter varieties, too.
- Share your favorite recipe for this creative chicken dish.
- We also found a recipe for you to try in your home kitchen.
- Order chicken cordon bleu at your favorite restaurant.
- Use #ChickenCordonBleuDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL CHICKEN CORDON BLEU DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar continues to research the origins of this savory food holiday.
Chicken Cordon Bleu FAQ
Q. How do you flatten the chicken for chicken cordon bleu?
A. Cooks use a kitchen mallet (also known as a meat tenderizer) to flatten meat.
Q. Is chicken cordon bleu the main dish?
A. Yes. Though variations on the recipes create appetizers with similar ingredients.
