Dublin Gets Advance-Order Peking Duck
China Hunan, sister restaurant to acclaimed China Song, is set to become one of Ranelagh's most popular with its star attraction: Peking duck that requires advance ordering and has already become a local talking point for its authenticity. The restaurant focuses on Hunan specialties and high-quality execution, positioning it as one of Dublin's top Chinese destinations.
The restaurant is the latest venture from the team behind Monkstown's China Song, Hakkahan in Stoneybatter, and Dublin 2's Little Dumpling and Nan Chinese Restaurant. This group has a track record of offering distinct, high-quality regional Chinese food beyond the more common Cantonese fare. China Hunan's menu shares a similar structure to its sister restaurant, China Song, featuring a mix of Hunan, Sichuan, and Cantonese dishes. The restaurateur behind this growing family of establishments continues a legacy started by his parents, who ran the popular China Sichuan restaurant for many years. Hunan cuisine, also known as Xiang cuisine, is one of China's eight great culinary traditions, renowned for its hot and spicy flavors, fresh aromas, and deep colors. Unlike the "numbing" heat of Sichuan cooking which uses Sichuan peppercorns, Hunan's spiciness is a more direct, "dry heat" that comes from a liberal use of fresh chili peppers, shallots, and garlic. The advance-order Peking duck is a multi-day affair. The process involves scalding the duck, coating it in a maltose and vinegar solution, and then air-drying it for at least 24 hours to ensure the skin becomes perfectly crisp when roasted. At China Hunan, the duck is air-dried for two days before being cooked in a high-heat bullet oven. This elaborate preparation results in the duck's signature shatteringly crisp skin and moist meat. The duck is traditionally carved tableside and served with thin pancakes, scallions, cucumber, and a sweet bean sauce. The first serving at China Hunan is often just the prized skin, dipped in sugar.
