Dreaming of Peking Duck

Normally we do not go out to eat very often because I cook better than most restaurants and the cheap part of me cringes at some of the prices for the five of us to have a simple meal. We generally save eating out for special occassions and the odd saturday we are caught in town and the kids need to eat -late dinner/early supper kind of thing. Psssttt ... dinner is lunch. There are three places we like to eat at and one place we like to have carry-out. Those of you in the area would be wise to try these places on for comfort. If you are planning to visit the D.C. Metro area plan to have supper out one night at this establishment. You will not be disappointed. I owe this post to dreaming I was eating duck the other night. LMAO!! I woke up starving and could not get back to sleep so I got up and had a small cup of yogurt. Believe me the yogurt has not cured my craving for dining at this establishment. Today's feature is Peking Gourmet Inn. Peking Gourmet Inn 6029 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, Va. 703-671-8088 First off before you get your heart set on eating at this establishment call and make a reservation. Otherwise you may not get to eat. They are always busy and parking is a little crowded at peak hours. I was introduced to this little nondescript North China style restaurant the first Christmas Steven and I spent together. It is a tradition in his family to have supper there on Christmas Eve. Most of the items on the menu are typical chinese fare and most every dish is delicious. BUT... here's the but ... They make the absolute BEST peking duck you will ever put in your mouth! When the entire family is present we order 3 whole ducks as our appetizer and rarely is there much to call leftovers. The duck is tender and succulent, melting in your mouth. The skin is crip and that delicious first crunch is to die for. When you walk in the small foryer is typical, when you open the door and approach the hostess it is usually busy and crowded but as long as you have a reservation you never wait more than a couple minutes if you have to wait at all. Walking in is like being on a 60's Kung Fu movie set. The wait staff is dressed in black pants and crimson coats. Many of them are very old and very polite, rarely speaking but giving excellent service. I love it when we have Eddie as out waiter. They still serve Shirly Temples (complete with orange slice garnish and a cherry) from the bar to children. Very cool. My kids always order one. The duck is brought out whole to your table and sliced while you watch. It is served with their homemade plum sauce, spring onions grown by the family and very thin pancakes that are steaming hot. Take a pancake fill it with a bit of duck, the onion and drizzle of plum sauce, roll and eat. Your mouth will dance with joy. The plum sauce is like none I have ever had before. We have even attempted to try and reproduce -not happening. They do not give away the secret to their recipes either. Ask for an extra dish of the plum sauce to take home with your left over duck. After you have filled up on the duck and can't possibly eat another bite without being a pig, order the Jeo-Yan Shrimp for your entree. It comes with it's own sauce but ask for the homemade yellow garlic sauce instead. The shrimp are HUGE and tender and perfectly fried. I have no idea what the coating is by it is scrumptuous. There are at least a dozen of those giant shrimp heaped on a platter. When I say giant I do mean giant. You will eat yourself into a frenzy near to the cusp of blindness on the duck and shrimp alone. If you want a cocktail might I suggest the maotai. It is very smooth and goes down in one long swallow. The whole duck is $35. The shrimp is $25. I would say for a couple going out to supper order 1 of each and carry the duck home as leftovers. You will not be disappointed. If your children do not care for this type of eating they are very gracious and understand when a happy meal bag is sat on the table. Other items on the menu are priced at what you expect to pay for the customary dining out supper entree ($12-15). I do believe the prices are on their menu online. If you go for lunch the prices are less. I am not sure if the duck is available during lunch. When we have eaten earlier in the day it has been after 2:30pm and we did have the duck. Dress is casual and you will not feel out of place in jeans nor would you feel out of place dressed more formally. The walls of the dining rooms are lined with photographs of the owners with politicians and celebrities. You never know who you will see there. You might see the president or members of his family, they dine there regularly. You might see any number of congressmen or other politicians. Hollywood types are also noted for dining here as well. Be discreet as you look around at the diners, you never know who will be seated near or beside you. I really want to go this weekend. I am craving the duck and shrimp but it is so close to our anniversary I really should wait and most likely will. It is where we had our wedding supper with all of the family. The photo above is of Gracie on Sunday afternoon. The girls wanted to eat outside in the grill house. J. got busy and set the table properly and Gracie felt we needed flowers to make everything complete. She walked around the yard and chose her flowers, cut them herself, then arranged them in the vase. The red vase was chosen because red is her favorite color. She fretted over the perfect placement of each bloom before she declared it fit to have on the table. Please make note of the lovely pink chandelier earrings -only allowed to be worn at home and the Vanna style of presentation for the camera. One last note - the photo of some of the jam I put up.