Oh baby. Quantum Physics, I love you… You know how sometimes there is such synchronicity in the Universe that it stops you in your tracks, tickles you to the bone? That is what happened this last Friday. When you are ready, the world is ready for you… I have been thinking about Peking Duck and talking about it a lot, as of late. The week before, I was googling trying to find a Chinese restaurant that served Dim Sum because in my experience, it’s always the best dim sum “palaces” that specialize in this roasted duck Chinese specialty. Distracted, as I usually get when trying to do research, I forgot about it until the weekend started to creep around… The subject comes up again, but this time, my foodie BFF and I are discussing another Chinese specialty… BBQ pork. Also known as Char Siu, I enthuse to my compatriot, who I am sure is only half listening to me as we go into our favorite Asian grocery store in search of our necessary food finds.

As is usually the case, we immediately split up following whatever pulls us down the aisles. He is on a mission, looking in the refrigerated cases for BBQ pork and I am on another mission. Assuming we may not find it prepared, I head down the prepared condiment aisles looking for the next best thing. I’m thinking that we’ll make it ourselves. After all, I have a pretty awesome pit master and 2 outdoor grills at my disposal. Why wouldn’t we try?  We meet up a few minutes later. He’s a little disappointed he didn’t find the pork but mollified by other fun finds, clutching several goodies in hand. We could spend hours here and it’s become one of our weekend treats, to make our rounds prepping for the kids we get the pleasure of cooking for over the weekends. They love Lo Mein and Chinese fried rice, so that’s what we are perfecting this particular weekend that sent us in search of the elusive Char Siu.

I’ve found the ingredients for marinating our own pork tenderloin and we excitedly discuss how we’re going to do it. On the way out to the car, we pass again, the Chinese restaurant just next door… But this time, we both stop and look in the window at the Peking Duck hanging there, invitingly. We look at each other and head to the car, Chinese goodies and a Vietnamese Cherry tree in tow. He’s putting the tree in and just says to me, “Go in and check it out. I know you want to…” I giggle and hop out of the car practically skipping. And then I see it… hanging right next to the last duck… CHAR SIU. I squeal all the way back out to the car. $16 later, half a duck and a pound of char siu in hand! My aspiring closet chef takes the bundle and says, “You freak, what else did you get??!!” Knowing me too well… I ceremoniously hand over what felt like the food find of the century. “NO FREAKING WAY!!!” Aw, yes… a gratifying moment in deed. And of course, we have to try dripping bites of both oohing and ahh-ing appreciatively in the car.

We researched recipes for Char Siu all weekend, still dedicated to making it at least once. But we obsessed and were so impressed with the beautiful roasted duck that we went straight home mid-round of running errands just to have a dinner fit for royalty but so inexpensive it felt wrong some how. Feeling like we won the lottery, we were well equipped for our family feast of authentic Chinese Lo Mein and fried rice. Look the duck out, kiddos!!

Worth a drive:

Wing Wong BBQ
Address: 5891 S Military Trail # 8, Lake Worth, FL 33463
Phone:(561) 433-2732