Provençal Braised Chicken

Think of this dish as bouillabaisse made with chicken instead of seafood. Fresh fennel, garlic, white wine, orange zest and saffron give the braise rich, heady perfume and an unmistakably Mediterranean flavor. Any unoaked dry white wine works well here, but ideally look for one produced in southern France, such as white Côtes du Rhône or marsanne. We use strips of orange zest instead of grated zest to lend citrusy notes to the braise. A sharp Y-style vegetable peeler is the best tool for peeling away zest strips, but try to remove only the colored peel, not the bitter white pith just underneath. Serve the chicken with toasted crusty bread drizzled with olive oil.