My son wants to eat Peking Duck today!
Today is June 08, 2008, a Chinese public holiday - Duanwu Festival, or popularly called Dragon Boat Festival. Duanwu Festival falls on the fifth date of the fifth month of Chinese lunar calendar. So each each year' Duanwu Festival has its different date due to the dynamic beginning of the Chinese lunar new year. Eating Zongzi is a must during Duanwu Holiday. Zongzi is a kind of rice dumpling with different fillings wrapped with bamboo leaves. My son doesn't want to eat Zongzi saying that Zongzi is too sticky, not good for digestion. Instead, he suggests we go out for Peking duck diner. My son wants to go with me and my wife for a family outing for Peking dinner! I hardly believe my ears! He is at the age of 18, still the age of rebellion. He seldom plays with us. Actually, he rarely lets him down to be with us, absorbed in his own world, which he thinks, we as adults, never know or understand.
Eating Peking Duck is one of the two musts for first-time visitors to Beijing. There are many Peking duck restaurants. The most famous are Quanjude Roast Duck restaurant chains. I have been to the famous chain restautants many times. But this time I want something special for the speciel holiday with my son. For me, the ducks at Quanjude are a little bit too fat. I think, the famous brand"Quanjude" is much more popular than the ducks it produces. The Quanjude people are unhappy if they read my blog. But it is only my personal experience. I have heard a lot about the duck resturant - King Roast Duck Restaurant, but never been there. Maybe this restaurant will give us some surprising effect. I dialed 114 to check the phone number of the King Roast Duck Reasturant. The other side tells me the phone number is 65156908. I make a reservation for a three-person table. at 6:00pm.
The King Roast Duck Restaurant in my mind is located to the south-east of Janguomen Bridge between Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong and Scitech Mansion. Its exact address is No.24, Jianguomenwaidajie, Chao Yang District,Beijing. Later I know that Duck King is also a brand name of chain duck restaurants. It has totally 6 duck restaurants. For more information, you may check its offcial website - http://www.bjywky.com/intro_en.asp. When we got there, we happened to find that a group of western duck eaters lining up entering the restaurants. The duck resturant is lavishly decorated with the royal colour of yellow as its main background. Some foreingers are already here enjoying the roast duck. Maybe it is a holiday, we several family gathering here. We ordered one duck costing at the price of RMB 198. Later we find it is worth the money. The duck slices are not greasy, not fatty, melting into our mouths! It is burnt exterior and tender interior. We eat all the duck including the duck bones ( we bring the duck bones back home for cooking duck bone porridge). I see the smile on my son's face, rarely to be found during his cool age! With nothing left at the table, we leave the King Roast Duck Restaurant at Jianguomen.
A group of foreigners lining up entering the King Roast Duck Restaurant
The two Chinese characters of "Duck King" in sight when you enter the gate
We ascend to the second floor for our pre-booked table
Several festival family and business gathering
Actions of our duck being sliced by the chef
My son enjoys his duck dinner
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