Chicken Braised with Chestnuts and Shiitake Mushrooms

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh chestnuts
• 16 large, dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1 chicken (3 lbs/1.5 kg)
• 3 green onions
• 1 piece (1 1/2 inch) gingerroot
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp Chinese rice wine, sake or dry sherry
• 1/2 tsp Szechuan or black pepper
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 1 lb (500 g) baby bok choy or Shanghai cabbage, halved lengthwise
• 1/4 tsp sesame oil