China Meiguo

China is a country full of culinary adventures and delights. One of the many famous dishes in China is Peking roast duck (北京烤鸭; Beijing Kaoya). Virtually any tourist group to Beijing will experience a dinner at a restaurant that features roast duck and my recent Belmont University study abroad group was no exception.

Peking duck is served in thin slices with crispy skin, and usually sliced in front of the diners so you get a little bit of a show to go along with your dinner. The duck slices are served on a platter and you put several slices in a steamed pancakes ( 春饼; chūn bǐng), along with some scallions and plum sauce or sweet bean sauce. The result ends up looking a bit like a tortilla.

The duck raising process might be considered a bit controversial since the young ducks are typically force fed 4 times a day to get them good and plump.