It is narrated from Sayyiduna Safinah (may Allah be pleased with him), the freed slave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that a bird (its meat) was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated: "O Allah, send me the most beloved of Your creation to You, so that he may eat of this bird with me." Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, befriend him."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب السين / 6407