Even average Chinese families, when they can afford it, serve an array of dishes at meal time. I remember during one Chinese cooking course that I took, the teacher explained the philosophy behind having several$or even many$dishes at each meal. The idea is that the taste buds quickly tire of one taste-sensation and therefore, the meal is more enjoyable if you have many flavors and textures.
At celebrations such as those that welcome the lunar New Year, chicken plays an important role. Chicken represents renewal and rebirth, so it often appears in several different dishes. In China, the Oven Stuffer Roaster included here would be served complete with head and feet to symbolize completeness -- but my husband isn't selling them that way right now, so I'm not going to be completely authentic! Other symbolic foods include oysters to represent good fortune, fish to symbolize plenty, and mein (noodles) to represent long life.
I don't really expect you to make all these dishes from scratch, so how about getting some of them canned or frozen from your supermarket?
Chicken Recipes - The Perdue Chicken Cookbook
Copyright (C) by Mitzi Perdue - Used with Permission
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