This section is from the book "The Table: How To Buy Food, How to Cook It, and How to Serve It", by Alessandro Filippini. Also available from Amazon: The Table: How To Buy Food, How To Cook It And How To Serve It.
Take two fine, fat canvas-back ducks ; pick, singe, draw, and wipe them thoroughly. Split them through the back without detaching them, and lay them on a dish to season with a good pinch of salt, half a pinch of pepper, and a tablespoonful of oil. Roll them in well, and put them to broil for seven minutes on each side. Dress them on a hot dish, spread a gill of maitre-d'hotel butter over (No. 145), decorate with a little watercress, and serve.
 
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