Quaglie alla scaligera

Quaglie alla scaligera is a traditional dish originating from Veneto. The dish is usually made with a combination of quails, lard, butter, olive oil, white wine, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper. The quails are butterflied as far as possible and browned over low heat in a mixture of olive oil and butter. The birds are removed from the heat, wrapped in lard, and seasoned with salt and pepper. A bay leaf is inserted into each quail before they're placed on a hot grill for a few minutes. As the quails cook, they're occasionally sprinkled with wine. Once done, quaglie alla scaligera are served hot, preferably with roasted polenta on the side for a complete meal.