Whole Linwu Duck Banquet

Whole Linwu Duck Banquet

　　Emperor Qianlong made six southern tours during his reign, and there was one place he simply had to visit — Mudu Town on the outskirts of Suzhou. Suzhou gardens are the best under heaven, but the courtyards of Mudu rival those of Suzhou. However, Qianlong wasn’t drawn to the beautiful Mudu gardens; he was there to taste the “Manchu-Han Imperial Feast.” Having grown accustomed to delicacies and fine wines, what he couldn’t forget was the “Manchu-Han Imperial Feast” from Mudu Town. The “Manchu-Han Imperial Feast” is also known as the “No. 1 Feast Under Heaven.”

　　Unfortunately, while the “Manchu-Han Imperial Feast” is undoubtedly exquisite, most people can only admire it, not taste it. The “Linwu Duck Banquet,” however, is a delicious feast that’s both visible and edible. The Linwu duck is one of China’s eight famous duck breeds, known for its tender meat and delicious flavor. With a breeding history of over a thousand years, it was once an imperial tribute and enjoys widespread fame.

　　The Linwu Guesthouse has fully leveraged the unique qualities of the Linwu duck and, through dedicated effort, successfully developed the “Linwu Duck Banquet.” To date, 98 dishes have been created, all featuring the Linwu duck as the main ingredient. Through various cooking methods, the essence of the Linwu duck is brought out, showcasing strong local characteristics. Each dish has its own distinct features, and here we introduce several classic ones.

　　The first dish is called “Linwu Duck-Stuffed Tofu.” Stuffed tofu is a familiar dish in the Chenzhou area. The Linwu Guesthouse innovatively uses premium Linwu duck breast meat, combined with water chestnuts and chopped scallions, to make the stuffing for the tofu. The tofu is shaped like a lifelike duck carved from an old pumpkin. This dish is visually elegant and tastes soft and delicious, with strong local flavors.

　　The second dish is called “Peacock Spreading Its Tail.” At one corner of the square plate stands a peacock head, behind which are arranged more than ten slices of mango. The mango flesh has been scooped out and filled with diced duck, cashews, and seasonings. On both sides of the porcelain plate are placed nine golden-red carrot slices. The overall presentation, with its red, white, yellow, and green hues, resembles a colorful peacock proudly spreading its tail.

　　The third dish is called “Eight-Treasure Gourd Duck.” Resting horizontally on the plate is a large, golden gourd — actually, it’s a Linwu duck skin-wrapped eight-treasure rice. The eight-treasure rice contains eight ingredients, including, of course, duck meat. This dish is exquisitely crafted, golden in color, and highly nutritious.

　　The fourth dish is called “Top-Notch.” This dish uses Linwu duck heads as the main ingredient, slow-cooked for a long time in aged brine, resulting in a uniquely flavorful dish that truly lives up to its name.

　　The fifth dish is called “Sautéed Linwu Duck with Chili Peppers.” This dish has a strong rustic flavor, with mildly spicy chili peppers complementing the delicious duck meat. It’s a popular choice among the public. In 2010, it was selected as one of the eleven premium Hunan dishes showcased at the Shanghai World Expo.

　　There’s also a uniquely flavored soup called “Cordyceps Flower Braised Old Duck.” This soup is made by braising cordyceps flowers and duck meat until tender, resulting in a delicious flavor. Cordyceps flowers have benefits such as soothing wheezing and relieving coughs, making this soup a nourishing delicacy.

　　The Linwu Guesthouse has fully utilized local characteristics to develop the “Linwu Duck Banquet,” which has earned the title of “Chenzhou Famous Banquet.” The leaders of the Linwu County Party Committee and County Government place great importance on promoting the “Linwu Duck Banquet,” encouraging bold innovation, expansion, and growth, in order to promote national culinary culture and contribute to social and economic development.