Of course when we think of buying a chicken in a Chinese market we imagine the whole bird, head and feet. There is a good reason that you still find chickens for sale this way throughout a large part of the world. You cannot tell the health of a bird from the packaged product in modern grocery stores. However if you have the whole bird, a quick look at it's bright eyes and moist feet will tell you that the bird is healthy and fit to serve to your guests.
Chinese food can be divided into five regions. The most famous is Cantonese which is popular for its roasted and grilled meats. Most Cantonese food is prepared without the use of an oven so foods are cooked directly over a heat source, either in pans like woks, or on grilling racks.
To capture a little Chinese flavor in your cooking I suggest you get a bottle of Chinese five-spice powder. Use it as a seasoning rub to enhance the flavor of chicken. This seasoning contains in equal amounts; cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise and Szechaun peppercorns. It can be strong to the taste so try it sparingly.
