The Crispy Legacy of Peking Duck

Episode 6 of the What the Food? podcast, hosted by Miles, Andy and Dom, titled "The Crispy Legacy of Peking Duck" was published on April 1, 2025 and runs 62 minutes.

April 1, 2025 ·62m · What the Food?

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Summary

*We encountered a couple of audio issues while recording this episode. Before you stamp on your headphones or throw your phone or PC out the window, any glitchy sounds you hear are in our recording! Apologies!*Peking Duck isn’t just food, it’s a legend. From its humble origins as a street snack in 13th-century China to becoming an imperial delicacy and a diplomatic power move, this crispy, caramelised masterpiece has had quite the journey.In this episode of What the Food?, we uncover how Peking Duck migrated from the waterways of Hangzhou to the imperial courts of Beijing, how roasting techniques evolved to perfection, and how this dish ended up impressing emperors, presidents, and food lovers worldwide. Plus, we’ll dive into the modern twists, from London’s crispy duck to Michelin-starred reinventions.So grab a pancake, roll it up, and join us for a deep dive into the rich, delicious history of Peking Duck. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe in your favourite app, leave us a rating, and share it with your mates. Follow our socials at: https://linktr.ee/WhatTheFoodPodcast or if you fancy treating us to a one-off cuppa: www.buymeacoffee.com/whatthefoodTheme music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada. Available for use under the CC BY 4.0 license (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Episode Description

Peking Duck isn’t just food, it’s a legend. From its humble origins as a street snack in 13th-century China to becoming an imperial delicacy and a diplomatic power move, this crispy, caramelised masterpiece has had quite the journey.

In this episode of What the Food?, we uncover how Peking Duck migrated from the waterways of Hangzhou to the imperial courts of Beijing, how roasting techniques evolved to perfection, and how this dish ended up impressing emperors, presidents, and food lovers worldwide. Plus, we’ll dive into the modern twists, from London’s crispy duck to Michelin-starred reinventions.

So grab a pancake, roll it up, and join us for a deep dive into the rich, delicious history of Peking Duck.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe in your favourite app, leave us a rating, and share it with your mates.

Follow our socials at: https://linktr.ee/WhatTheFoodPodcast or if you fancy treating us to a one-off cuppa: www.buymeacoffee.com/whatthefood

Theme music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada. Available for use under the CC BY 4.0 license (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)