Beijing roast duck to be served at Shanghai Expo

BEIJING - Beijing roast duck, one of the most famous Chinese dishes, would be on the menu for visitors at the Shanghai World Expo, managers of the Quanjude restaurant chain said Wednesday.

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The first batch of trained chefs as well as serving and equipment maintenance staff from the century-old Quanjude duck restaurant chain would arrive in Shanghai early April to prepare for the opening, said Jiang Junxian, board chairman of the China Quanjude (Group) Co., Ltd.

All the equipment had been prepared at the restaurant located in the Expo's Chinese traditional food street, and the duck would be cooked in a traditional style to ensure visitors fully enjoyed the Chinese delicacy during the Expo which would run from May 1 to October 31, he said.

Traditionally, Beijing duck is roasted over a fruit-wood fire and slices are then wrapped by the diner into a thin pancake along with a sweet plum sauce and thinly cut spring onion and cucumber.

Chefs will also introduce new dishes including pyramid-shaped dumplings stuffed with duck meat, duck hamburgers and duck soup.

The Quanjude roast duck became a top favorite among athletes during the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.