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Duck Tour d'Argent

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Probably the most spectacular classical French recipe, le canard à la presse, here made at La Tour d'Argent, a Paris restaurant open since the 16h century.

You can't really do this at home. But the canard à la rouennaise or duck in blood sauce is an antique, spectacular, barbaric and sophisticated recipe you need to see at least once in your life.

I present it here because to me it's the most spectacular recipe of the classical French repertoire. The reason you can't do it at home is the Presse à Canard, a duck crusher that you would pay thousands of dollars if only you could find one for sale.

I've seen only 4 presses à canard in my life. One is in the Le Divellec, a Paris fish restaurant where President Mitterand was a regular. They use it to make a lobster sauce very similar to the one described below. The second Presse à Canard is in the most distinguished restaurant in Switzerland, Philippe Rochat in Crissier. The maître d' Mr Villeneuve explained me that the press was Mr Rochat's birthday present from the staff. They never use it. It costs several thousand Euros and came from France. The third and fourth presses à canard were both at the Tour d'Argent, the oldest restaurant in France and one that gives the most lasting impression. They have two sterling silver presses, one is in function and the other kept as a backup if the main press breaks. They send it to Christofle to fix it when it happens.

The recipe hereafter is the one served at La Tour d'Argent (The Silver Tower) for about a century now. They give you a certificate for every half duck, mine was already in the 7 figures. It is not a modern recipe, the blood taste is quite strong and frankly, is not the best way to serve duck. But how spectacular!

Roast a duck to medium rare. Remove the skin.

Remove the magrets, put them aside and extract the liver.

The duck is liquified in a kitchen mixer, then put on a large metallic dish placed on a flame. The large surface will speed up the evaporation needed to concentrate the sauce.

The duck's carcass is put in the press and crushed until the juice from the organs runs into the dish. How bloody. They do this on a pedestal right in the restaurant. The maitre d' agreed that I would come up close and take these pictures for you. I guess he must be happy to hear some French spoken from time to time.

Consommé is added to the press to help get the canard's liquefied innards out.

A glass of Fine the Champagne is added, then the sauce is salted and peppered.

The sauce is mixed, heated a little, then filtered using a fine chinois.

They let the sauce reduce on a flame until it thickens. I believe the blood coagulates and gives it its blackish, heavy texture.

The magrets are served covered in the sauce. The ducks' thighs continue to cook while you eat and they come in a second service, without sauce.

Finally, the bill comes. At lunch this dish costs about 70€ per person, not as expensive as some people think but still a rather pricey meal. Dinner time is much more expensive I'm told. The restaurant's location, view and decor and just unbeatable. You have to come once.

 

The restaurant's logo and motto "La Tour d'argent poinct ne leurre" - "The Silver Tower Doth Not Deceive".

 

La Tour d'Argent
www.tourdargent.com
+33 (0) 1 43 54 23 31
15-17 Quai de Tournelle
75005 Paris
France


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97 Comments

  • #1
  • Comment by Paul
Bonjour, I was just wondering if the Tour d'Argent will ever have le
cheval à la presse or even better a petit âne à la presse? Merci.Paul
  • #2
  • Comment by Martin (poo head) Foster
That is SICK!
  • #3
  • Answered by fx
Apparently some people find this recipe barbaric. If you find eating animals barbaric then yes, maybe. But putting the innards and carcass of a cooked duck into a silver press to make a delicious sauce seems to me like a rather respectful way of using the duck. Would you feel better if they just threw his remains in the trash?
  • #4
  • Comment by Michael
Le Banyan in Bangkok has a Presse à Canard and specializes in this dish. A true gastronomical experience.
  • #5
  • Comment by Robert
FX - thank you for posting these photos and writing this review! While I had heard of Tour D'Argent before (mostly about the view and the price), I recently read about the duck in Larousse Gastronomique, and then went online to see what else I could learn. Thanks for sharing your experience - I look forward to viewing the rest of your site, and one day making it back to Paris for some duck!
  • #6
  • Answered by fx
Robert, thank you for your comment! The Tour d'Argent is a fascinating restaurant and they serve many other dishes than the canard à la presse, whose strong blood sauce is not for everybody. The maitre d' actually tries to convince you NOT to order it unless you are fully confident you can eat blood sauce. So you can enjoy the sights and watch them make the sauce while eating a more modern version such as duck à l'orange. I hope you'll be back at La Tour - it really 'doth not deceive'.
  • #7
  • Comment by Clare
The blood sauce can be a little hard to handle.  I ate it for the first time at Tour D'Argent 12 years ago on my first trip to Paris.  My father insisted he take my brothers and me, and we all ate the canard à la presse (I was 7 years old).  I have since gone back at least once a year, partly because I love the canard, and partly because I love practicing my French with the waiters!
  • #8
  • Comment by parshu narayanan
Was planning to visit the restaurant as part of my Tourist Visit to Europe, but think I have been put off for life. Can anyone suggest an equally representative and iconic restarant of French cuisine in Paris
  • #9
  • Answered by fx
Parshu, I am so sorry my article convinced you not to visit this fine restaurant. In truth, you'll have trouble locating fine French food that will please your wife's vegetarian persuasion. But she can try the delicious 'Soupe à l'oignon' or feast on French pastry. I'll think of some other suggestions for you.
  • #10
  • Comment by parshu.narayanan
Thanks, fx. If you are ever in New Delhi, please make a point to visit Karim's in Chandni chowk, a crowded neighborhood in the shadow of the Red Fort built by the same Mughal king who built the Taj mahal. Their family used to be the Royal cooks till the Mughal dynasty was killed off by the Brits. Their Seekh kababs are among the best in the world. Pl make sure though that your immune system can cope - but since you are so well-traveled I assume it will.
  • #11
  • Answered by fx
I recall visiting Khari Baoli, the wholesale spice market in New Delhi, it is a great place indeed! I really hope to be able to visit Indian again, the people are so nice and the culture so deep - all this with such a rich culinary tradition. But you are quite right that one's immune system is the bottleneck and I am proof of that.
  • #12
  • Answered by fx
For those who wish to taste high-class contemporary French cuisine in Paris but are put off by the more traditional dishes such as Canard à la Presse or Escargot au beurre, the best place is probably restaurant L'Arpège (www.alain-passard.com) which offers mostly vegetables although it used to serve meat as well. I've been a couple times, it is really exceptional cuisine.
  • #13
  • Comment by john
One of the most famous dish of France and I will try it this Sunday but in Hong Kong and I will go with my mom. I had read above comments which said the sauce may be a little 'hard to handle', do you mean the smell maybe be too strong for some? Please elaborate more on this.
  • #14
  • Answered by fx
John, the sauce is a bit too much for some guests because it is thickened with coagulated blood and liver purée. This imparts a stronger taste to the sauce than most people are used to. If the strongest-tasting meal your mother usually has is steamed chicken breast, this is probably not for her. But you can watch the duck press in action while eating Duck in Orange sauce, or let your mother east the delicious Quenelles de Brochet while you try the Duck in Blood Sauce for yourself. It comes in two servings so she can try it too - the waiters are not fussy about this. But I wonder, where in Hong Kong can you try this dish?
  • #15
  • Comment by Deborah
Friday, May 4, 2007 @ 7:15 p.m. we had reservations at "La Tour d'Argent". To be honest eating here was the highlight of my four days in Paris. Everything was perfect. Yes, we tried the Duck (duck number 1056754) in Blood Sauce. We met the executive chef and had a tour of the kitchen. Later on he surprised me with a birthday cake. It was absolutely divine. The only disappointment was that I expected to sign a book with our duck number in the book. That did not happen. Instead we were presented with a cute little card with the number printed on the top.We left with a copy of the menu which I am having framed with my duck numbered card. :)
  • #16
  • Comment by john
Thanks for the tips, fx.I will have pressed duck this Sunday at Le Parisien, International Financial Centre, Central , HK. The restaurant claims itself one of the 50 most prestigious restaurants in the world.I don't expect too much as HK is not famous for this very French dish but the price is acceptable - 120 euro per duck.
  • #17
  • Comment by Alex
Parshu, fx; regarding the vegetarian suggestions in your previous messages, I just wanted to let you know that usually, onion soup is made with animal-based stock and covered with cheese. Also, genuine French pastries that require fat are always made with butter. Some vegetarians (purists or vegans) would thus not consider those dishes vegetarian. As for the article and pictures about the Canard à la presse, it is simply the most complete information I could find on the net, good work!
  • #18
  • Comment by Beth Loggins
To people who are familiar with foods cooked with blood, this isn't anything peculiar. Some dishes such as pork cooked with pig's blood may use vinegar to cut into the richness and earthiness of the blood.
  • #19
  • Comment by duck lover my friends nickname is a duck
THATS NASTY I CAN'T BELIEVE THE IGNORNESS IN THIS WORLD. IT SHOULDN'T BE A DUCK COOKER IT SHOULD BE A DUCK UP  _ ACTUALLY INSTEAD                                          |-UCK UP!!!!!!!                                   
  • #20
  • Comment by Marcus
My mouth is watering; I love duck and I like my meat bloody.Though I think the reason the word "barbaric" was used was the method of death (the duck has to be strangled). But that wouldn't stop me eating it.
  • #21
  • Comment by nicolle
I had duck 1027757 - cooked with plum sauce; it was fabulous!
  • #22
  • Comment by parshu.narayanan
dear fx, alex - A belated thank you for your advice. Yes, animal stock and rennet-initiated cheese will be a no-no for my wife, though Hindus have no issues with dairy prodicts per se. My vegetarianism is more stretchable so I shall definitely visit both the onion-soup place and L'Arpege, and maybe go and try the Orange sauce duck by myself as fx speaks so well of the T'd'A! I agree with alex that like the rest of this blog, fx brings a very high, mouth-watering quality to his macro food shots, with real food and without the use of a food stylist. I work in advertising so i should know :-)
  • #23
  • Comment by Louis from Paris
In Paris you can see a presse à canard at l'Escargot, rue Montorgueil.
  • #24
  • Comment by Liz
So glad I found your article. I have a French Duck Press my father-in-law brought back from France in the 50's. It is in perfect condition. We are actually looking to sell it. Do you know how I might get the word out? anyone interested can email me:EByrdie@aol.comThanks again!
  • #25
  • Comment by David Cantrell
Cooking with blood isn't that unusual or gruesome - it's the main ingredient in black pudding or blutwurst, for example.
  • #26
  • Answered by fx
Indeed, blood is used in many sauces as a thickening agent. Good old bolognese sauce requires a few chicken livers which do a similar job - to some extent. But our modern palates are less and less used to such strong meaty tastes!
  • #27
  • Comment by Sally Morrow
An amazing picture story - much more than I expected and the pictures are wonderful.  Looked for pressed duck because Hammacher-Schlemmer catalog lists one in solid brass for a mere $1,999.95.  It has duck feet.  Adorable.
  • #28
  • Comment by paul johnson
Great  pictures and very informative article!! Thanks,walrus
  • #29
  • Comment by John Somers
Enjoyed your article and would love to try the recipe.I have found a duck press,solid brass,weighing in at 33 lbs.,made in France,for sale in the Orvis sporting gifts catalogue for $2,900. I have suggested it to my wife as a Christmas present. I look forward to Santa's arrival !
  • #30
  • Comment by andrew
Thanks for the information.my question goes to the presentation of the duck. After it has been ordered it is presented for inspection at the table prior to preparation. none of the group I have dined with know exactly what we should be looking for at that moment to accept or refuse the duck in question.Could anyone here elaborate on what features we should be examining at that point?Thanks.
  • #31
  • Answered by fx
Andrew, duck is not like wine, where sometimes it's corked and sometimes not. When they bring the duck to your table it's for you and your guests to admire the roasted bird before they carve it. Not for you to decide if it's fit to eat.
  • #32
  • Comment by Mirja
Awaesome! Can I get one on ebay?Love, Mirja
  • #33
  • Answered by fx
Yes there are some duck presses offered on Ebay from time to time but they are invariably in poor condition and offered for unrealistic prices. You can buy one new in France.
  • #34
  • Comment by Sean
Christofle makes a duck press
  • #35
  • Answered by fx
Indeed they do, both duck presses at La Tour d'Argent are actually made and maintained by Christofle.
  • #36
  • Comment by andre zeidan
The photos are great, well captured and show in details the method of preparation.I will be very thankfull if you can mail me the meyhod of preparation in detail because the one you have in the article is not obvious.thank you
  • #37
  • Comment by high street bistro nz
We are receiving a presse a canard next week for my restaurant. can you please tell me how many restaurant are doing this dish in the world and where are they?Cheers
  • #38
  • Answered by fx
You ask for the list of restaurants who offer presse à canard, I know only of two in Paris, the Tour d'Argent and another one listed in the Gault Millau. However many more restaurants have a duck press as a decorative item or as a gift from the staff to the chef-owner. Do you plan to use it? The taste is quite strong and not very much in line with current culinary mores!
  • #39
  • Comment by dan
Thanks very much, you ended my search with this web recipe and pictures of Presse a Canard. Now I know what kind of an antique I truly possess. Having been in the fine dining business years ago, I had heard of pressed duck, but didn't know the recipe or tradition. Then when I got into the wine business I bought what I thought was a smaller wine/grape press, supposedly over 100 years old, solid brass with nickel plate, clearly made by a family manufacturer in san francisco, perhaps late 1800s. It's a Duck Press! Now we are downsizing and I'm looking to sell it. FX - feel free to give out my email (atlwine@netscape.net) to any chefs or home epicurious types that are looking for a press in good condition. I can email photos. Thanks for your site!
  • #40
  • Answered by fx
Dan please email me a picture of your duck press.
Nice job,I've had the duck at La Tour d'Argent twice.  It's a great old school dish and great with old burgundy.  Thanks for the pictures and fine presentation.BRAVOMats
  • #42
  • Answered by fx
Mats thanks for visiting and I hope you'll get to eat another duck at La tour d'Argent!
  • #43
  • Comment by Philip Abole
Am I understanding this correctly?  ALL of the internal organs are kept intact during the roasting/pressing process? Gastric juices, bile, fecal matter... all of this goes into the sauce?  I can deal with liver and even blood, but this would be tough for me to watch, let alone eat.The guy who invented this dish must have had a serious grudge against ducks.
  • #44
  • Answered by fx
Mr Abole, the strangled ducks used for Duck à la presse only contain their livers, hearts and gizzards, like all edible birds.
  • #45
  • Comment by Tokugawa
In case you can not get to France....there is the Tokyo branch of Tour d'Argent. It was located in the New Otani Hotel....but that was a number of years ago. They do the same pressed duck there as in Paris.
  • #46
  • Comment by John Parziale
I have an antique french duck press that i'm looking to sell..i can send a picture if you so desire..thanks
  • #47
  • Answered by fx
John, yes please do send me a picture and desription and price for your duck press.
  • #48
  • Comment by AlexFalk
I recently started a new job at an American store called Sur La Table, which carries an unholy amount of kitchen utensils and gadgets at fairly reasonable prices.

We have a duck press, for 2000 USD. Nowhere near as fancy as the one shown however.
  • #49
  • Answered by fx
Alex, thanks for visiting, now you can tell your clients all about the mighty Duck press. There is another restaurant in Paris where they use a lobster press to make a sauce from lobster carcasses!
  • #50
  • Comment by Penny
Of course there is no faecal matter, the intestines are removed so it is just the bones liver etc that is pressed.  Sounds lovely and something I would like to try
  • #51
  • Comment by fabienne devolder
My parrents had a french restaurant in BELGIUM
we still have an antique duck press like on the pictures
We would sell it for the right price do you know where we could sell it
thank you
  • #52
  • Answered by fx
Fabienne, please send me detailed pictures and your price for your parents' duck press.
Question,
I have one of the Presse a Canard used for Duck Tour D' Argent.I thought it was used in French cooking, I found this several years ago and bought it because i thought it was a very unique item.Can you tell me if this was made in reproduction and also what it would have been made out of.I have had it in storage for several years and was told it was called a Duck Press untill i saw yours in your article
  • FX's answer→ Gwen, send me a picture. Most presses I see are fruit presses rather than duck presses.

My mother took me to La Tour Dargent on our first trip to Paris. It was my most memorable meal ever, and we did have the pressed duck which was superb. You are so right, the views are amazing and the service was unmatched. I also was on a mission to eat frogs legs and escargot every place that had them. While this trip was more than 20 years ago, I remember  the pastry shell with escargot layered in the bottom of the shell with alternating frogs legs and asparagus spears fanned out of the top. It was amazing.
PS I bounced to this post from your most recent truffle article.
  • FX's answer→ Laura your mother must be quite a discerning foodie to take you to La Tour d'Argent, a most memorable meal indeed! You might want to look at the article called Snails Have Seven Lives at L'Escargot Montorgueil...

What a wonderful story. I've always wanted to visit, and this enhances my desire! Yes, I heard that most of the clients were tourists, not French. While well ranked still, the restaurant is said by old timers that it "has seen its better days" with the retired chefs.

A few years ago I saw a "cheese press" for ~$150 US. After seeing your photo of teh siimple press, I realized teh press I'd seen was a duck press! Missed that deal! I can't believe a simple press goes for $2,000,even if it's plated with jus a couple grams of silver or nickel. Some enterprising Swiss could have them made in Asia, and market them for way less, hint, hint! What a delight to live vicariously through your eyes and palate.
Ivan
  • FX's answer→ Ivan, you can buy all sorts of low quality fruit presses on Ebay for 200$. But if you want a handmade press in sterling silver, you'll have to cough up the 2 large no matter where. If you could get the same quality press made in Asia it would cost you quite a lot. This is not just "a simple press", it looks really awesome from up close. I make it my business to inspect Duck Presses whenever there is one at a restaurant or shop, and although I've seen cheap ones, never are they anywhere the same as this. If you allow me, a person that would not know wines as well as you and me could also find a cheaper red wine and think, on the face of it, that it is "just as red as a bottle of Petrus", but we know better, right?

I Have a Duck Press for sale. It is Brass and is located in Pennsylvania, USA my cell is 570-657-0769
perhaps there is some one who would like to experience what this wonderful machine can do.
Tommy McEvilly
Ps: loved the article.
  • FX's answer→ Thanks Tommy, send me the pics of your duck press.

  • #61
  • Comment by Mami
I too also enjoyed this cult dish a few years ago at Tour d'Argent.  Wine list is also very impressive - one of the biggest & best I've seen.  Though I prefer more casual dining than grand theatric one, I'm happy I've tried it.  
  • FX's answer→ Indeed a rather theatrical dinner!

  • #63
  • Comment by Tommy McEvilly
I wrote to about a press that we have but the return email for you did not work. Sent it three times with photos of the press that we have for sale. mrdealer@ptd.net
Tommy
  • FX's answer→ Sorry Tommy, my email was down for a couple days, you can send them to Francois@micheloud.com

  • #65
  • Comment by Don French
    I have an old very very heavy duck press for sale.  It is not so ornate as the one shown in the article.  Can anyone give me some idea of it's worth.  I would like to sell it, if possible.
  • FX's answer→ Don, they go for between 500$ and 1500$. What matters is that they are not domestic fruit presses or sausage stuffers but real duck presses, in good condition and with nice ornaments.

My partner and I are lucky enough to have a hobby of eating in the best restaurants in Europe.  We've not visited Tour D'Argent as yet but it is top of the list for when we eventually get to Paris.  In a way we daren't go as we know fine well that we'd end up eating every meal there during our break!  We did that in Nice at Chanteclair in Negresco.  Loved it there and will definitely be staying again soon.  When will we be visiting Tour D'Argent???  When the inheritance comes through I think!  lol.

Thanks so much for the article.  My partner, who is a retired Relais Chef regularly talks about the process of duck press and has showed me one in Le Gavroche in London.  VERY MUCH look forward to tasting the contents!  
  • FX's answer→ Good luck if you visit, you will have plenty of fun!

Hello, FX.

Thank you very much for sharing this recipe.
Would you mind if I translate in into Russian and post it with link to your website at our Restaurant reviews and critique project: Gourmet Project?

Thank you again for that legendary recipe.

Sincerely yours,
Boris
  • FX's answer→ Boris, OK you can go ahead and translate this to put on your website with a link to FXcuisine.com
    Good luck with your project!

The Plaza Hotel from Buenos Aires has a silver press very similar that the one sees in these pictures. They have been serving Presse à Canard for the last century (next July 2009 the hotel is celebrating its 100 anniversary). The Claridge Hotel, another classical restaurant in Buenos Aires, has a silver press too. Regards,
  • FX's answer→ Ricardo, I would very much love to visit Argentina, my family has a lot of relatives in your country, who emigrated in the 1850s when there was famine in my part of Switzerland.

  • #73
  • Comment by butch burton
While cleaning my parents basement several years ago, saw this unusual device.  Turns out it is an antique duck - very similar to the one appearing in this article.  This thing has "The Burley Duck Press" on the arms of the device holding the screw mechanism.  It is electroplated as does the device in the picture.  I doubt any of these things were made of silver.

My duck press came out of a local resort hotel and was used in the early 1900's.  Does anyone know anything about "The Burley Duck Press", where it was made and so forth.

I am going to clean it up, have it electroplated and mount it on a fancy walnut platform - it will look great in my kitchen along side my dual wheeled Enterprise antique coffee grinder - the bin on the grinder will match the duck press body.

Thanks   
  • #74
  • Comment by Tina
Thanks for the article. In your desription of the preparation process, after removal of the liver, you describe the duck being liquified. What part if the duck? The liver?  I probably would not try this dish, because the flavor would be too intense for me, but I find it fascinating.  
  • #75
  • Comment by Erik
Hi!   I actually do a canard presse at my restaurant in Portland Maine called Evangeline.  We have three of them on the book tonight!
  • FX's answer→ Great! Do you do the sauce using blood?

  • #77
  • Comment by charlene zion
I have the duck press from 'Sur La Table' which retails for $1995, in very good condition.  Anyone interested in buying this?  Even if you don't use it for the purpose intended it's a great decorative conversation piece for your kitchen.  Any ideas on which category to put this under if I go the Ebay route?  Thanks.  cjz1010@aol.com
  • FX's answer→ Do you have a picture?

  • #79
  • Comment by Martin
Hi fx, I went out to eat at the Pavillon-Restaurant at the hotel Baur-au-Lac in Zürich. Guess what they had on the menu? Duck, prepared with the duck-press. They really do have one of these rare kitchen utensils. They only serve it for at least 2 people, though. Unfortunately none of the my comrades were convinced of this dish... Greetz, Martin-
  • #80
  • Comment by Jerry
My daughter and I enjoyed Canard Rouennaise (pressed duck prepared in the traditional manner, silver duck press and all that) at La Couronne, in Rouen a few months ago. This is the same restaurant (dates back to 1345!) where Julia Child had her very first meal in France and is where she filmed her Pressed Duck TV episode some thirty years later. The recipe and the story of the TV shoot are to be found in the From Julia Child's Kitchen cookbook. Living near Boston, I'm curious enough to drive up to Portland and try this dish at Evangeline!
  • #81
  • Comment by laure duval
I enjoyed your article.  At least you have the basic information right, and wonderful pictures.  (Wikipedia tells you to add the skin to the pressings, which is wrong wrong wrong).  I have a duck press, that sits on my kitchen counter. I found it for $150 sitting under a table in an antique show. He didn't want to haul it back home and no one else even knew what it was,  let alone wanted to buy it. But having eaten pressed duck in France I grabbed it.   I made pressesd duck with it once before, about 15 years ago. The hardest part back then was finding a recipe and then finding live ducks, since you have to strangle them yourself.  This  is not something butchers are allowed to do it seems. I grew up on a farm, that was not so hard.  Getting the feathers off the ducks - that was hard. However, although it is not an everyday dish, as you can tell from the long hiatus since my last effort, I am making it again for a very select group of friends this coming Sunday.  By the way, there is a fine restaurant dating back to 1345 in Rouen, La Couronne, which makes this on a regular basis and has a couple of duck presses. They call it Canard a la Rounenaisse. And they do not bother to number the meals.    I have eaten it there, and so did Julia Child, cf. her From Julia Child's Kitchen, page 243 - where she gives a modified recipe. I did not know this when I first tried to use my press.  Instead I found a book called The 100 Glories of French Food and cobbled something together with that and LaRousse Gastronomique. Burgundy, cognac, butter and pressesd juices in  a lucious mahogony colored and delicious stream is what comes out of the press to be  added to the mashed duck liver (your recipe somewhat confuses that issue)and heated below a simmer, lest it curdle, for the sauce. The liver and the blood do indeed thicken this.  PS a few years back Williams-Sonoma had silly duck presses with duck feet for sale.  But the real thing is brass & marine nickel I believe, silver plated, and as you noted, rather hefty.  
  • FX's answer→ Laure, you are really passionate about Canard à la presse and have taken your research very far - congratulations! I find many home fruit presses in flea markets for low prices but never one designed for ducks. Is there much difference besides the duck ornaments? You might want to try the Lobster à la presse for instance at Le Divellec in Paris to take the concept further (also more digestible and no strangulation needed).

  • #83
  • Comment by fabiennne devolder
I have an antique duckpress for sale realy nice in excellent condition. Do you know where I can sell it ?
  • #84
  • Comment by Dan P
One duck press can be also seen at Hofburg/Sisi Museum in Vienna, along other items from an impressive silver collection.
  • FX's answer→ I'll try to check it out!

  • #86
  • Comment by dave
I ate their about 4 years ago, I unfortunately did not have the chance to go back last year when I was in Paris.  Once you have tried this duck it becomes the yardstick of which all other duck is compared too.  I have yet to find its equal any place in the world.
  • FX's answer→ Yes, the Chinese and Italians also can do ducks a favor, but the decorum at la Tour d'Argent is rather difficult to forget!

  • #88
  • Comment by Robert
I know of 4 duck presses in Northern Calif. I own one and two of my friends each have one , and one I saw at Quail lodge in Carmel.  I tried to buy it and although they didn't know what it was they did not want to sell it.And asked me how to use it. All four of these presses are heavy and made of nickel and or plated brass..  .. I have a friend that ate at the french rest. and they think my sauce is better.. I use wild duck only (domestic is to fat for my taste). And I do clean the duck before roasting. Rare is the key to wild duck.. Over cooked and you may as well eat liver.. rare it is a fillet. Teal have the best and mildest flavor but sprig are hard to beat..Since I shoot a lot for wild ducks I use the press frequently and the sauce never disappoints.
  • #89
  • Comment by Argol
Brennan's restaurant in le vieux carré in New Orleans has 2 beautiful duck presses which they use only as decoration. I plan to steal one, and I know they will not miss it.
You write: "The duck is liquified in a kitchen mixer, then put on a large metallic dish placed on a flame..."

I think you mean, "The duck *liver* is liquified... etc.

Cheers.
  • #91
  • Comment by Antonio
Very nice & thanks for the pictures, reminded me of a great dinner. Only comment to the sauce, it should never boil otherwise the blood coagulates and becomes grainy.
  • #92
  • Comment by Kelly
I have a duck press as well..Checking on it's value.
  • FX's answer→ Very good talking piece, a duck press!

  • #94
  • Comment by Mr K K
Dear Sirs,
Enquiry as below:
1. How much the duck for 1?
2. Had booking to eat? How long?
May I hope received your answer.
Thanks,
  • FX's answer→ You need to call the restaurant up, I was just a visitor there.

  • #96
  • Comment by Dr. Heinrich Backhausen
Hmm, canard rouennais signifies at first the method to kill the duck:she is garotted. So all the juices, blood etc.are kept inside. A duck killed "normally" (nantais) wouldn't give the desired result.
The blood shouldn't coagulate, but the protein is used make the 'liaison' of the sauce (like an egg yolk does for other dishes, eg. Bavaroise (but NOT Sc. hollandais). Blod (or fresh boudin noir mixed up with some vinegar)is common  for liaison in dishes of game, the civets
  • FX's answer→ Thanks for these excellent clarification, very interesting!




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