I had to write about the adventure the Fiance and I undertook by attempting duck for dinner for the third time a couple weeks ago.  The first two times I made duck, I overcooked it to the point of well, death.  It was entirely inedible.  I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to get this meal right - after all, I roast chicken on a regular basis!  As a result of the wasted meals, I’ve been afraid to go to all the effort to pay for, prep and serve duck. What’s the point if it’s something I just can’t do? With the support of my lovely partner though, we tried it once again.  This time served with an orange, honey and kumquat sauce.  It was unbelievable!!! I wanted to post about the amazing duck experience as a lesson to a) not give up on an entire food source out of fear and b) to remember that practice clearly makes perfect.  Doesn’t that duck look scrumptious?

Now, I still think duck is really fatty and quite heavy, so it won’t be a regular protein in this household.  It is a special treat, and one that made us both step back and say - whoa, maybe we can cook.  It also was a good lesson about cooking together as a team.  We carefully prepped the whole duck, worked slowly on the sauce and discussed our approach to the sides.  Another tip, we saved all (and there was a lot) of the leftover duck fat, and made duck fat french fries to accompany the leftover peach chutney duck sandwiches on rye. The leftovers were almost more amazing then the original meal.  Duck was affordable, local, and a fun way to revisit something I vowed never to make again.

Just a little post to say duck isn’t a mystery after all…  it just takes a little effort, and the right attitude.

Who knew?

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