Description
The Volailles du Gatinais PGI are fowls from openair chicken belonging to the French Gâtinaise breed and also to its dwarfish variant breed.
Production Area
The production area of Volailles du Gatinais PGI covers 256 municipal areas located in the departments of Essonne and Seine-et-Marne in the region Paris-Isle-of-France; in the department of Loiret in the region Centre and in the department of Yonne in the region Burgundy.
Production Method
The Volailles du Gatinais PGI are raised in the open air and in farms. Their diet includes cereals. During the breeding phase, the poultry, from the 6th week of life, is brought to grassy and shaded areas. This type of breeding enables to refine the characteristics of Volailles du Gatinais PGI. The winged animals stay from 9.00 am until the nightfall in grassy and shaded areas, well-oriented and equipped with watering points and cribs. The minimum age for slaughtering of Gatinais PGI poultry is of 81 days.
Appearance and Flavour
The Volailles du Gatinais PGI include poultry with only white feathers, in the case of cock; its tail feathers are also fully white, whilst comb and wattles are bright red. The cock's weight spans from 3.5 kg to 4 kg. The hen's size is smaller with a weight of 2.5 kg to 3 kg. The fowl is compact and tasteful.
History
Volailles du Gatinais PGI are the result of an ancient tradition. The white breed poultry has existed in the region for immemorial times, as confirmed by many documents which narrate the history of winged animal breeding in the region farms. The poultry was sold at numerous fairs in the area. Over the centuries, the breed was loosing its peculiar characteristics. The achievement of PGI certification has enabled to maintain its characteristics thanks to severe production regulations. The Gâtinaise breed was highly appreciated due to its quality fowl. The production, which has rediscovered the selected breeds of the area, was relaunched in the 1950s.
Gastronomy
As all poultry, also Volailles du Gatinais PGI can be conserved for a few days in the refrigerator, wrapped into the purchasing paper and stored in the coldest compartment. The fowl can be cooked in different ways depending on the product which can be whole or in slices. Very good to prepare tasteful and refined second courses. Ideal for roasts seasoned with butter and aromatic herbs or recipes accompanied by local sauces.
Marketing
The Volailles du Gatinais PGI include the types of product which regard the varieties of poultry included in the denomination, individually written on the package, like chapon blanc fermier, poulet fermier (white farm capon, farm chicken). The product is sold whole or in slices, with or without head, packed in suitable containers which keep unaltered its organoleptic features and labelled to ensure the provenience and certification.
Distinctive Features
Thanks to the specific selection of the breed at its slaughtering age, to the diet rich of cereals and to the peculiar breeding method, the Volailles du Gatinais PGI acquire specific nutritional features and have very compact and flavourful fowls. The characteristic poultry breed of Volailles du Gatinais PGI is used to produce fowl and eggs.
