Beijing, China is famous for its Peking Duck. I ventured to a local restaurant that specializes in this exact dish to not only experience the dish for myself, but to also uncover what has allowed the Peking Duck to maintain its popular status besides the unique taste. I arrived at the restaurant one evening, and before I asked the waiter about the dish I was truly concerned he would name some cooking practices I wasn’t familiar with, but the waiter gave me an unexpected surprise; she led me to this fully glass box in the middle of the restaurant, and, inside this box, was the kitchen and the chef’s. I could see every step necessary to prepare the meal.
The waiter shared her opinion on why the dish has retained its demand over decades. She believes that the historical significance that dates back to the “imperial age” along with the overwhelming acknowledgement by the Beijing community in regards to the unique, wonderful taste, the Peking Duck will live on for centuries to come. She also believes that the process necessary to make the Peking Duck is so exquisite that it is easy to tell when the Duck is prepared properly, and I believe she is spot on. After looking at the unique process, I now understand that it is years of perfecting the process that has allowed the Peking duck to be one of the most delicious dishes I have had since I arrived in China.