I probably shouldn’t admit this publicly, but my all-time favorite
Christmas movie scene is from A Christmas Story when, after a
turkey disaster, Ralphie and his family end up at a Chinese restaurant
for Christmas dinner. At Chop Suey Palace, they are aurally assaulted
by a choir of waiters singing an amazing ESL version of “Deck the
Halls,” then a Peking duck is beheaded at the table and served forth.
Every time I watch this scene, my stomach hurts from laughing and longs
to be filled with duck.
Peking duck is more than a consolation-prize dinner; this luscious
bird is perfectly suited for a decadent holiday feast. Traditionally,
Peking ducks are bred (read: force-fed and fattened) specifically for
this iconic dish. A slaughtered duck is reverentially seasoned and
slow-roasted, then ceremoniously carved at the table and served with
pancakes, scallions, and hoisin sauce. A slice of Peking duck is a
truly glorious thing—layers of crispy, almost translucent, sweet
skin; pure fat; and tender, salty, smoky meat all in one rich bite.
These restaurants, all of which are open Christmas Day, serve a fine
Peking duck—perhaps even better than the one from Chop Suey
Palace. 
Sea Garden
509 Seventh Ave S, 623-2100
$28.95 for one duck course, $33.95 for two
Shanghai Garden
524 Sixth Ave S, 625-1689
$25.95 whole (call ahead to order)
Tai Tung
655 S King St, 622-7372
$14.50 half, $26.50 whole
Joy Palace
6030 Martin Luther King Way S, 723-4066
$23.95 whole
