As the most famous food in Beijing, Beijing Roast Duck is not only a dish but also an art. The following will tell you the art of Beijing Roast Duck.
As the most famous food in
Beijing,
Beijing Roast Duck is not only a dish but also an art. The following will tell you the
art of Beijing Roast Duck.
The art of roasting ducks evolved from techniques used to prepare sucking pigs. For more than a century, specialized chefs have developed the idea that the skin of the duck should be so soft and crisp that it melts in the mouth. In applying the traditional method of preparation, the chefs at Quanjude (most famous roast duck in Beijing) pay particular attention to the quality of the duck, the auxiliary ingredients and the type of wood burned in the oven. Special farms supply plump Beijing ducks weighing an average of 2.5 kilograms each.
The preparation of the dish requires a series of complicated steps, which include inflating the unbroken skin like a balloon so that it roasts just right. Quanjude employs chefs who specialize in these techniques, while other chefs prepare the non-duck dishes.
The slicing of the meat from the carcass of the duck is an art in itself. A skilled chef is able to cut between 100 and 120 slices in four or five minutes, each slice with an equal portion of both skin and meat. Inventiveness is another quality cultivated at Quanjude. One seasoned chef has mastered more than 80 dishes made from the duck’s innards, head, wings and webs. A selection of these dishes, whether hot, cold, boiled, fried, stewed or pickled, will be the makings of an all-duck banquet.
We have given much information about the art of this noble dish but none at all on how it is eaten. The simple procedure is as following:
Pick up a pancake in one hand and, using a section of raw scallion as a brush, paint a few splashes of bean sauce on the pancake. Next, place the scallion in the center of the pancake, and add a few pieces of duck with your chopsticks, finally rolling it up for convenience’s sale.
Well, welcome to Beijing and enjoy this delicious food and the art.