1.   Bulb shaped, with firm, overlapping white leaves and fern-like ends, fennel has the mildest licorice taste and a beautiful crunch.

2.   I like the flavor and purple color of opal basil but you could use chervil, which also has a licorice taste.

3.   In the chicken recipe cooking the fennel for a long time makes it as sweet as the cooked onions but with that wonderful mild licorice taste.

4.   Its robust licorice taste suggests supermarket fennel with the volume turned up.