JIA, the contemporary Chinese restaurant at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, will fly in expert duck roasting chef Yuan Chaoying from Kerry Hotel, Beijing to present the authentic Ya Yuan Peking Duck from 30 November to 3 December 2017.
Guests will be able to watch ‘the master’ at work as Chef Yuan Chaoying – famed for his traditionally prepared wood-fired Peking Duck – works JIA’s open duck oven.
Chef Yuan uses the finest-quality farmed duck and hang grills it to provide a thick, crispy melt-in-the-mouth experience. With over 35 years of experience, Chef Yuan invites guests to indulge in the Ya Yuan Peking Duck style, along with Chinese pancakes and buns, traditional condiments and his signature home-made duck sauce.
The special menus presented include Golden Peking Duck, Deep-Fried Duck Heart with Chilli Oil and Beijing-Style Chicken with Sweet Soya Bean Sauce. Guests may also try other specialties, such as the Four-Treasure Hot-and-Sour Soup and Fresh Stewed Sliced Fish Black Fungus in Glutinous Rice Wine.
About Ya Yuan Peking Duck
Existing since the South-Song dynasty, the Ya Yuan Peking Duck dish was originally named Zhiya. By the Ming dynasty, it was featured as one of the main dishes on imperial court menus. Containing protein, natural fat, carbohydrate, calcium, iron and vitamin B, duck meat is very nutritious and is a popular choice for those who wish to eat healthy food.
The 2.5-kilogram Beijing duck selected from Jinxing Duck Farm is the guarantee of the authenticity and tastiness of Ya Yuan Peking Duck. Authorised as the only raw ingredient, Beijing duck is fed in a special way for the quick accumulation and balanced distribution of lean meat and natural fat. This ensures that, after 70 minutes of roasting, the finished duck is thin, crispy and tender with a fine claret colour.
The traditional ‘hang-grilling’ method of duck roasting dates back 150 years, and Ya Yuan Peking Duck is carefully prepared through an intricate process of gassing, cleansing, scalding, coating, airing and water filling.
Every part of the procedure is strictly monitored and carefully undertaken by experienced chefs. In terms of scalding and airing, for example, it is critical that the chefs master the soaking time of the duck in the boiling water and the airing sequence to maintain the duck’s even and well- rounded shape, as well as achieve a crispy taste.
Ya Yuan Peking Duck adopts the use of jujube wood for duck roasting, a tradition that dates back more than 100 years. While heated, the wood gives off a clear and scented smoke that envelops the entire duck; the heat from the strong fire radiates to the top of the custom-made oven and then goes back to the duck. The fire hole is blocked by three red bricks to provide a fair and even roasting.
After 70 minutes, the finished duck is delicately sliced into breast, leg and head portions ready to be served separately. The head is cleaved from the middle, and topped with two fillets. From the head to the leg, the entire duck is presented to the guests.
