La Gallina Caponata (Caponata, the Chicken) is a seven-foot tall, multi-colored (largely reddish-pink) bird from the Spanish version of Sesame Street. She appeared on Barrio Sésamo from 1979 to 1980. She is the Spanish equivalent of Big Bird.
Caponata is supposed to be a hen, although any similarity to a hen might be a coincidence.
Caponata is quite similar to Big Bird in personality: A four (or six) year-old helping children to learn and to feel okay about not knowing everything. She is a contrast with wise snail Perezgil.
Caponata is less talented than Big Bird; she doesn't skate, ride or dance.
Caponata also interacts with human characters, being the main Muppet in the scenes filmed in Spain. She was friends with the likes of Adela, Petri and Julián, who seemed not to care about Caponata being a bird.
The word caponata refers to a little-known Italian dish, similar to Greek moussaka.
The Spanish audience was initially confused by Big Bird's appearances on video releases and movies such as Follow That Bird; Big Bird was confused with Caponata although his name had been translated as Paco Pico (Fred Beak, but notice the alliteration).
This confusion has been compounded more recently. In Juega Conmigo, Sésamo (Spain)|Juega Conmigo, Sésamo]], the dubbed version of Play with Me Sesame which debuted in Spain in 2006, Big Bird is called Caponata, not Paco Pico. It's unclear whether this was an oversight or an homage to Emma Cohen's character.
Caponata's popularity was such that her name was used in a song by Los Payasos de la Tele, a group of TV clowns completely unrelated with the Henson company, but who had reached an agreement with the Spanish owners of Caponata trademark. The song intended to teach children to count from one to ten:
La gallina Caponata ha puesto un huevo, ha puesto dos, ha puesto tres
La gallina Caponata ha puesto cuatro, ha puesto cinco, ha puesto seis
La gallina Caponata ha puesto siete, ha puesto ocho, ha puesto nueve
Déjale a la gallinita, déjale a la pobrecita, déjala que ponga diez
(Translation:)
Chicken Caponata has laid one egg, has laid two (eggs), has laid three (eggs)
Chicken Caponata has laid four (eggs), has laid five (eggs), has laid six (eggs)
Chicken Caponata has laid seven (eggs), has laid eight (eggs), has laid nine (eggs)
(Please) Let the little chicken, (please) let the little poor thing, (please) let her lay ten (eggs)
The song was popular during the early 1980s, during Los Payasos's peak of popularity, sometimes even with a child audience unfamiliar with Caponata.
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Arrange Eggplant slices in single layer on clean kitchen towels or paper towels. Sprinkle both sides liberally with salt. Let stand 1 hour to allow bitter juices to drain.
Preheat broiler or prepare grill. Rinse Eggplant slices and pat dry. Brush slices with 1 tablespoon oil. Broil or grill until Eggplant slices are soft and slightly charred, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Set aside to cool.
In large skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over low heat. Add Onion and cook 1 minute. Add celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes (with liquid), olives and capers. Increase heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up tomatoes with spoon, until liquid is slightly reduced, about 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, coarsely chop Eggplant. Add to tomato mixture and cook 1 minute. Stir in vinegar and Sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in basil.
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