Crystal chicken with various dips

‘Crystal Chicken’ is the fanciful name for Cantonese poached chicken, also called ‘White-cooked Chicken’, and there are examples hanging in nearly every restaurant window on Gerrard Street. If you live near a Chinatown, making this dish is simplicity itself: go and buy the bird ready-cooked, stocking up on other Chinese ingredients at the same time. On the other hand, if you are going to have to cook the chicken yourself, then, as consolation, the by-product is an excellent stock. Try and t