Cary Grant’s Oven-Barbecued Chicken Recipe by Tori Avey

Those of you who follow my blog regularly know I’m a “nerd” when it comes to food history. I’m also a big fan of the Silver Screen; I’m particularly fond of early Hollywood, silent pictures and cinematic classics. That’s why I was thrilled to stumble upon a rare vintage cookbook called What Actors Eat When They Eat! (Lymanhouse, 1939) This quirky book is a compilation of recipes and “favorite dishes” from some of the greatest stars of old Hollywood. The recipes were compiled and edited by Rex Lease and Kenneth Harlan, two actors who achieved most of their success in silent films. The forward is written by screenwriter Anita Loos, author of the famed comedic novel Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, on which the Marilyn Monroe film is based. Reflecting the clearly defined gender roles of this time period, the first line of the forward reads:

Gentlemen prefer girls who know how to cook, whether they be blonde, brunette, or titian.

The cookbook is organized alphabetically by actor name. Each entry contains a headshot of the actor, a brief biography and a recipe—either a family recipe, or a favorite dish the actor enjoyed. There are some terrific actors featured in this book. While several of the recipes are outdated and over-processed, it is a fun glimpse at the time period and taste preferences of some cinematic greats.

I hope to cover other stars and recipes in future posts. Today, I’m sharing a recipe from one of Hollywood’s legends—a romantic and charismatic leading man who was born with a very unsexy name, indeed.

On January 8, 1904, Archibald “Archie” Alexander Leach was born to a working class family in Bristol, England. His parents, Elias James Leach and Elsie Maria Kingdon Leach, had very little money. They spent a great deal of time arguing and struggling to raise their son, an only child. In order to escape the difficulties at home, young Archie spent Saturdays at the “picture palaces” watching matinees and discovering a love for film and acting.

When Archie turned 14, he decided to take a chance on acting. He joined the Bob Pender Troupe, a traveling performance group also known as the “Knockabout Comedians.” He acted in pantomime and performed tricks as a stilt walker and an acrobat. After a successful tour of small English towns, the troupe went to New York, where they were well received. After two years, Archie decided to make America his new home. He did a fair number of odd jobs before earning his first stage role in the musical Golden Dawn. It was the beginning of a theatrical career, which eventually led to an audition with Paramount Studios.

When Paramount offered Archie a five-year film contract in 1931, the studio advised him to change his name. He chose Cary Grant, the name he would carry as he built one of the most successful careers in Hollywood history. Over the next four decades, Grant appeared in an impressive 72 films and received two Academy Award nominations. He became known as Hollywood’s most debonair leading man, sought after by the movie studios for his blockbuster-making charm and appeal. He starred in several noteworthy movies, including Bringing Up Baby, To Catch a Thief, and An Affair to Remember. His most famous film is Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest, after which Hitchcock claimed Grant to be the “only actor I have ever loved in my whole life.”

Grant’s greatest talent was comedy, which he treated with a light, natural ability. His success was undoubtedly helped by his charisma and dashing good looks. He appeared elegant and sophisticated, so different from the working class English lifestyle of his childhood.

Cary Grant Barbecued Chicken Recipe, Biography and Headshot from What Actors Eat When They Eat!

In What Actors Eat When They Eat, Cary Grant’s entry is for Barbecued Chicken. It’s a simple oven-barbecued chicken recipe, nothing fancy. I can’t help but wonder if the recipe is a nod to his more humble beginnings. About the recipe, Grant says:

“Now go to it, friends, and don’t blame me if it is not to your liking. For after all, the recipe is not mine. It is the national prize winner of the year and I happen to like it.”

I made the recipe, and it is pretty good. I used one 4.5 pound chicken, rather than the recipe’s suggested 3 chickens, 1.5 pounds each. I increased the oven heat and baked it for a long time to ensure the chicken was well-cooked and tender. I also thickened the sauce a bit as suggested by the recipe’s liner notes. The recipe produces a LOT of sauce, but it isn’t really a problem, since it helps keep the chicken moist and tender as it cooks. Next time I might cut down on the vinegar a bit; that is a personal preference, though. It’s a simple and homey recipe, just right for a cold autumn evening.

Food Photography and Styling by Louise Mellor

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Cary Grant’s Oven-Barbecued Chicken

Cary Grant's Oven-Barbecued Chicken - Learn to make one of Cary Grant's favorite recipes.

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COURSE: Main Course

Kosher Key: Meat

Servings: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 4.5 pounds bone in, skin on chicken parts
• Olive or vegetable oil for frying
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup A-1 sauce
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1 onion, peeled and diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch (or more if needed)

NOTES

Adapted from "What Actors Eat When They Eat!" by Kenneth Harlan and Rex Lease

You will also need: 9x13 baking dish, saucepan, aluminum foil

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Heat olive or vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium till hot. Fry the chicken pieces in the hot oil in batches till browned. Season with salt and pepper as you cook.
  
• Place browned chicken pieces in a 9x13 baking dish.
  
  
• In a saucepan, combine ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, water, A-1 sauce, sugar, cider vinegar, onion and garlic. Whisk together over medium heat till warm. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water till smooth. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the barbecue sauce, whisking till incorporated. Continue to whisk over medium heat till the sauce is hot, bubbly, and thickened.
  
  
• Remove from heat. Pour the sauce evenly across the top of the chicken pieces. Cover the roasting dish with foil.
  
  
• Bake the chicken for 60-75 minutes, or until the meat is tender and well cooked. Remove from the oven. If you’d like to serve extra sauce with the chicken, skim the fat drippings from the top of the sauce. To thicken the leftover sauce, pour it into a saucepan and heat over medium. Mix together equal amounts of cornstarch and water, a half tablespoon at a time, and slowly whisk into the sauce. Heat and add the cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly, till desired consistency is reached. Serve chicken warm with the thickened barbecue sauce on the side.
  
  

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Cary Grant’s Oven-Barbecued Chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 710 Calories from Fat 387

% Daily Value*

Fat 43g66%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Cholesterol 173mg58%

Sodium 1076mg47%

Potassium 842mg24%

Carbohydrates 32g11%

Sugar 22g24%

Protein 44g88%

Vitamin A 605IU12%

Vitamin C 11.1mg13%

Calcium 64mg6%

Iron 3.8mg21%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

tried this recipe?
Let us know in the comments!

—

 Research Sources

Lease, Rex and Harlan, Kenneth (1939). What Actors Eat — When They Eat! Lymanhouse Publishers, Los Angeles, CA.

McCann, Graham (1996). Cary Grant: A Class Apart. Columbia University Press, New York, NY.

Nelson, Nancy (1992). Evenings With Cary Grant: Recollections In His Own Words and By Those Who Loved Him Best. Thorndike Press, Thorndike, Maine.

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