Peking duck takeout?

[alba_luvr]

Anyone know a place where I can buy a whole peking duck cooked and ready to serve? I live in the Pickering/scarborough area. I'm having a dinner party soon and would like to serve up some crispy duck skin/meat that i want to slice myself.

Also, where can i buy the "pancakes"?

[jayt90]

If it is a crispy BBQ duck only, you can get a good one at Ho Ho, 3833 Midland Av. I would call first, as they do a limited number fresh each day. They'll chop it it for you, and they may have duck soup.

I found the place in Gourmet magazine, Aug. '09, and go regularly now for take out. I like all their food, except BBQ pork which seems dry compared to their roast pork.
http://www.gourmet.com/food/2009/07/the-last-chinese-bbq-edition
http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2009/08/ho-ho-bbq

[Asagiri]

If it is a crispy BBQ duck only, you can get a good one at Ho Ho, 3833 Midland Av. I would call first, as they do a limited number fresh each day. They'll chop it it for you, and they may have duck soup.

I found the place in Gourmet magazine, Aug. '09, and go regularly now for take out. I like all their food, except BBQ pork which seems dry compared to their roast pork.
http://www.gourmet.com/food/2009/07/the-last-chinese-bbq-edition
http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2009/08/ho-ho-bbq
I just read both articles, and I gotta say I love the pride/dedication the Si-Fu has with his work. I find that this is harder to find nowadays, when all you have are chain stores, where everything is mechanized, and there's no pride with the workers at all with what their doing. And how everything is about cutting costs/corners, using cheaper quality ingredients, etc.

[4flava]

I've heard of Ho Ho Bbq for a while but haven't tried it yet.. is it REALLY that good??

[alba_luvr]

Cool. I'll definetly try out Ho Ho bbq tonight. Do you know the average price of a peking duck @ Ho Ho?

Duck:
I have heard from a few of my chinese friends that take out peking duck is no good because as soon as you get home, the duck is simply just not crispy and just plain dis-satisfying. Also, that re-heating it in the toaster oven or microwave is a definite no-no.

Bread:
As for the bread/pancake, where can i get this? How do i prepare it? Should i just find a recipe online and make it myself (i'm thinking flour/oil/water?)

Veggie:
That veggie that goes into the duck w/ pancake is a green onion no? or is it a different type of green onion?

Sauce:
The sauce is just a plain regular hoisin sauce right?

[jayt90]

Ask the Wong's about veg., but you are probably on the right track with green onions. Pancakes will be available at T&T, Middlefield and Steeles. It won't be practical to make it yourself unless you are really familiar with flat breads.

I think the duck is $15. I would let them chop it, then reheat under a hot broiler to re-crisp the skin. Microwave would not do justice to the skin or texture of the meat.

Sauce recipes often include hoisin, sesame oil, soy sauce, bean paste, wine etc in small quantities, but hoisin is dominant.

Call first. The phone no. is in the Gourmet link. Not sure of Sunday hours.

[sobersky]

Anyone know a place where I can buy a whole peking duck cooked and ready to serve? I live in the Pickering/scarborough area. I'm having a dinner party soon and would like to serve up some crispy duck skin/meat that i want to slice myself.

Also, where can i buy the "pancakes"?

The Perfect Chinese Restaurant on Sheppard and Brimley has that and you can request for take out. You would get the duck all nicely sliced up, the condiments and freshly made pancakes all packaged separately. I'm not entirely sure if they deliver but you can certainly order ahead of time and pick up.

[alba_luvr]

oh wow perfect has that all together? i might just go and check out perfect. thanks

[sobersky]

oh wow perfect has that all together? i might just go and check out perfect. thanks

You're welcome. Mind you they're always busy and service in a busy Chinese restaurant is nothing to write home about. However, if you are wanting to try out that at the restaurant, request for the cash deal special where you spend above $20 on regular food items (before tax) and get the peking duck for $10 (instead of $26).

[jayt90]

I picked up a roast duck at Ho Ho today, and it was $17. Really good, moist and tender and I let them chop it it into slices. The marinade, inside and out comes through subtly. The skin is soft and crispy (hard to describe) but would become crispy again close under the broiler. One duck would serve 4-6 people depending on how hungry they are, and the sides.
They have BBQ duck (more red than amber) but Mrs. Wong said it is not as moist, in fact dry.

[alba_luvr]

OK, so go for the "roast" duck and not the "BBQ" duck. Just wondering if that is anything close to the "peking" duck that you get @ chinese restaurants

[jayt90]

OK, so go for the "roast" duck and not the "BBQ" duck. Just wondering if that is anything close to the "peking" duck that you get @ chinese restaurants

I haven't had the traditional Peking duck with the gong ceremony and soup course, plus dumplings prepared at table. However I was impressed by how much succulent meat was on their duck, as opposed to my own home efforts, which have been dry, tough, and hard to carve.
The Gourmet article says the Ho Ho ducks get a marinade, inside and out, and the cavity is sealed with a needle. I'm guessing that the only thing they don't do for Peking is blow up the skin with an air pump. You can ask them as they keep a copy of Gourmet on hand, but, they are not really good in English. They will be helpful, rather than rude and abrupt.

Let us know how you make out with this project.