The Old-School Cheesy Chicken Dish That Deserves A Huge Comeback - Tasting Table

"Looking backward with rose-tinted glasses, it's hard not to see those pans, steaming hot and fresh from the oven, as a perfect culinary moment. Some of the apparent perfection of these vintage chicken dishes no one seems to make anymore may be just nostalgia, but when it comes to one dish in particular, we don't think so. No, chicken Divan, a creamy and cheesy dish of chicken, broccoli, and (occasionally) almonds, is due for a return to the regular weeknight menu rotation."

"Chicken Divan was first concocted at the Divan Parisien, a restaurant in the Chatham Hotel in New York City. However, the specific timing of its creation has been lost in history, and the exact recipe was always kept a secret by the chef. But, the dish gained such notoriety that over time it spread to other restaurants, then made an appearance in various cookbooks, and even graced the back of Campbell's soup cans."

"As with many casseroles, the secret of chicken Divan's success was largely in its creamy sauce. Some assert that it was a simple bechamel - perhaps, laced with a splash of sherry - while others insist it was a Mornay, one of the many bechamel-based sauces. Regardless of the original recipe, for many, nostalgia may lead more clearly to derivative home recipes that relied on ingredients such as mayonnaise or condensed cream of chicken soup to achieve a similar creamy decadence."

Chicken Divan is a creamy, cheesy casserole combining chicken, broccoli, and sometimes almonds. The dish originated at the Divan Parisien in the Chatham Hotel in New York City, though the exact creation date and original recipe remain unknown. The original chef kept the recipe secret, yet the dish spread to other restaurants, cookbooks, and even appeared on Campbell's soup cans. The defining element is the creamy sauce, variously described as béchamel, Mornay, or home adaptations using mayonnaise or condensed cream of chicken soup to recreate its decadence. The dish is due for a return to the regular weeknight menu rotation.

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