Thursday, December 19 -- Duck Dynasty

We knew we were going out for Peking duck but didn’t realize what a gastronomical adventure we would be enjoying.

We walked to the restaurant as it was just a couple of blocks from our hotel. It was an older building but we could see from the outside that the place was packed. We went in and were led to a large round table covered in plates and glassware, no plastic ikea cutlery in sight. They brought us a baby chair but we weren’t sure how Maylia would do as she had always resisted sitting anywhere but my lap. We formed a plan and appealed to her always eager appetite -- placing some goldfish snacks on the tray before we put her in. She was definitely nervous and began to reach and whine but we smiled and talked to her and I kept as close to her as I could. Not only had she not argued when we put her mittens on earlier but now she was now sitting quite happily in a high chair. Another milestone reached. 

Joan took the encyclopedic-like menu and went over it with one of the waiters. As she ordered most everything on her own without really asking us any preferences I was admittedly a little nervous. Moments later they brought us a bowl of petite mandarin oranges dramatically nestled on top of a bowl of dry ice, and, not a few moments after that, our dishes began to arrive. There was a colourful combination of vegetable and meat dishes -- chicken with peanuts and chilies, sauteed lettuce, corn with chopped red and green peppers, and a heaping bowl of black things that looked like a fungus and tasted like a pickled rubber mushroom. It actually felt squeaky when you bit into it. The main dishes were the noodles and the Peking duck, both special dishes here in Beijing. They brought out our duck already sliced though at most of the other tables a chef carved the duck right at the table. The duck was presented with portioned plates for each person with a mixture of vegetables, sauces, and spices. Small round shells, (think of a tortilla made from a wonton wrapper) sat in a bamboo steamer and you would take one on to your plate and then fill it, fajita style, with whatever customized combination your palate preferred. The noodles were the same way  -- served plain but accompanied by a a personal plate of more sauces and vegetables. 

The dinner was absolutely delicious but we were even more pleased with Maylia who sat quite contentedly in her chair while eating rice and corn from a wooden bowl they had brought her. As we had had only  one utensil thrown across the table, and neither Todd nor I had ended up covered in food, for us the night felt like a quacking success.