• 1 guinea fowl, approx. 1.5 kg (ask your butcher to joint it and cut it into 8 pieces in all)
• seasoned flour
• good olive oil
• 100 g pancetta, cut into small lardons
• 200 g button mushrooms, washed and earthy stalk bases removed
• 200 g button onions, peeled
• 1 bottle red wine, preferably Sangiovese
• 4 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 bay leaves, 1 sprig each of parsley and thyme, tied into a bouquet garni
• salt and pepper
• 4 Crostini
• chicken liver topping for Crostini or, much easier, a good quality chicken pâté (optional)
• a handful of parsley leaves

Dust the pieces of guinea fowl with the seasoned flour. Take a wide pan or casserole which will hold the meat in one layer. Heat a little oil in this over a medium heat and gently brown the guinea fowl. Be careful not to burn, as the taste of scorched flour is impossible to get rid of. When the pieces are uniformly golden brown add the pancetta and a little more oil. Continue to cook steadily until this turns translucent, then add the mushrooms and onions. Continue sautéing carefully, turning the pieces of fowl occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables have coloured slightly. Add the vinegar and boil for 1 minute then pour in the red wine and add the bouquet garni. Return to a simmer and then turn the heat to low. The pieces of bird should be about half covered in the wine; if not, add a little water. Braise gently for an hour, turning and basting often. If the liquid level drops too much, add a little water; the final level should have reduced by approximately one-half, and be a deep red colour with a glossy sheen. Check that the bird is very tender, nearly falling off the bones; if not return it to cook for a little longer. Check the seasoning.

Serve with crostini spread with liver paste under the pieces of guinea fowl, and the mushrooms, pancetta, onions and syrupy sauce spooned on top. Scatter with a little coarsely chopped parsley. Italian Coq au Vin!