Literal translation
from an old hen, good broth
Meaning
an old hen makes the best broth
Explanation
This saying repeats the idea that age and experience often yield the best results, as a variant of vièio oulo, bouono soupo (old pot, good soup). Vièio (old) qualifies galino (hen), and bouan (a spelling variant of bon, good) qualifies bouioun (broth, which can also mean consommé or cannetille), in an elliptical construction with no verb, introduced by de (from), stating a cause followed by its expected consequence. The image reflects a real culinary practice : an old hen, too tough to roast, lends itself particularly well to a long simmer, which draws out all the flavour it has accumulated over the years. The saying transposes this cooking practice onto any situation where age, far from being a flaw, becomes a strength, whether an experienced person, old knowledge, or a tried method. It is often used with mischievous warmth to praise, through a culinary detour, the value of an elderly person or of know-how handed down over a long time.