Digital Duck Meat

Technology is great. What would humans do without computers? But computerized Peking Duck is another story. China's oldest Peking Duck restaurant Quanjude is planning to go digital with the introduction of computerized ovens that will churn those crispy ducks out like so many lead-laden toys from a Guangdong factory.

Ducks are traditionally roasted in wood fired ovens for 45 minutes, during which chefs manually rotate them to keep the temperature even. The new computerized ovens will take the place of chefs (who it seems will face a similar fate to that of the ladies who check subway tickets once the pink ticket checking machines are finally installed), cooking many ducks at once rotisserie style, similar to what you might find in the deli section of your local supermarket.

According to People's Daily, the general public has reservations, saying that the art of duck making will be lost and that the tradition of firing a duck will become little different from the way the KFC colonel fries his chicken. Many feel that it's a traditional practice that should not be lost to automated machines. However, it could mean that the steeply priced ducks (sold for RMB 198 at some branches) might be sold for a lot cheaper.

Links and Sources:
Quanjude Official Site (Eng)
People's Daily: Peking roast duck producer doubted for planned computerized cooking
The Beijinger Directory: Quan Ju De
The Beijinger Directory: Beijing Duck