Duck

Fowl but never foul, communal, but at capitalist prices, Peking Duck is a go to for special occasions.  Truth be told it is a reason to invent occasions.  The best place for this dish in greater Los Angeles is Ji Rong in Rosemead.

I have tried the rest, Tasty Duck, also in Rosemead, Meizou Dongpo in Arcadia and Duck House in Monterey Park.  Meizou is the fanciest if you eat there, and has the most innovative container if you take it to go.  Along with the highest prices, the Duck tends to be on the fatty side, a plus with some Chinese, but not for me.  I have made multiple visits to the Duck House.  It is one of the best Chinese restaurants for everything but Duck.  The duck is on the dry side and the hoisin is off putting.  Tasty Duck is no longer open, but was the least expensive, with somewhat lower quality.  

My duckpertise was refined through two visits to Beijing.  

Much goes into the perfect version.  The hoisin but be sweet enough without denigrating into syrup.

Ji Rong has spot on hoisin.  The pancakes must be ultra thin.  You want to taste duck, not the pancake.  Again just right.  The skin must be crackly crisp, and the meat must be moist and flavor packed, without being fatty.  Check and check.  

Special occasions call for libations.  Ji Rong has a weak wine list, so bring your own and pay the 15 dollar corkage.  If you are focusing solely on the duck I recommend a Grenache or a Rhone Blend.  A light to medium bodied Pinot Noir might also suit.

On my last, of approximately ten visits to Ji Rong, Roslyn and I joined a meetup group.  Not knowing what other dishes would be ordered I opted for a Cabernet Franc Rose.  In the past I have brought a Mourvèdre Rose.  Both are full bodied for a blush, and proved flexible.

We ordered an number of other dishes I would recommend.

Snow a Choy in garlic.  Similar to Morning Glory.

Cubed filet mignon.

Very tasty Lamb in Cumin.  In the background, Duck Soup which had more flavor than most versions.

Fish with Basil.  Pescatarians can have fun too.

Our Rose with food in the background.

Shrimp with Walnuts.  An atypical version with the shrimp in a batter.  Very good.

Less interesting was the pancake.  It was well made, properly flaky, but bland.