Got a confession to make. I’ve been to Beijing a few times over the past 7 years (has it been really that long?) but I’ve never had Peking Duck in Beijing. Ever. Until now.
I’ve had lots of other traditional Beijing food such as dumplings, different kinds of soups, pork and snack food. I’ve had very VERY good Szechwan food (LAN Club/South Beauty anyone?) and street food. But I’ve never done the duck thing. Why? Maybe it’s the intimidation factor. After all, Beijing is primarily a Puthongua speaking city; english, at least in the hole in the wall restaurants (where the good food usually is), doesn’t exist.
But there are more places to get Peking Duck besides Li Qun, right? Tonight, this sad state of affairs ended with my first real Peking (Beijing?) Duck dinner at the glamourous and very swish Da Dong restaurant in the Chaoyang district. My fren and I tagged along with two of her other frens, one who was playing tour guide for two more frens from the UK. Got that? And since my fren was playing host to another visitor to Beijing (moi), it seemed a meal planned by providence.
Erica, Helen and Phoebe my glamorous hostess!
Since half our party spent much of the day trekking around the Summer Palace after surviving the previous evening at Suzie Wong’s, they were hungry! The trick at Da Dong is to order the duck as soon as you hit the table because they prepare the ducks to order and it takes close to an hour. We ordered a full, protein heavy menu. The pix are not the best quality because I was snapping on the sly. Seems that in general, restaurants here in Beijing are extremely camera shy. “Competitive reasons”. First time I’ve heard that one…
Chicken soup served in a hollowed out orange. Zesty!
Prawns (not the mayo ones)
Sauted diced duck in bird’s nest with little pastry stuffed ducklings on the side
There was also some green stuff that was ordered and devoured, because it was quite good. However, everyone was waiting for the duck to arrive. And both arrived at the same time, accompanied with two chefs and one waitress. The chefs displayed the ducks before they cut them down into four plates of duck ready to be garnished, wrapped and devoured.
The end result. One of four.
The ducks disappeared very quickly. Burp. Lean, crispy skin and juicy. Kick-ass!
Then there’s this fruit plate and almond jello dessert. BURP
We ate like the Imperial Courts of old. Ate well. Considering the quality of the food and the quantity we consumed, the bill was very reasonable.
Best of all, I still had Y130 for the ride to PEK very early tomorrow morning!
Musings of a Food and Travel Addict