Pet Pha Lo (Stewed Duck) with Chile Dipping Sauce – Moveable Feast

Ingredients

• 1 oz. dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1 cup Thai thin white soy sauce
• Scant 1/3 cup Thai black soy sauce
• 2 oz. rock sugar or granulated sugar (scant 1/3 cup)
• 4 stalks lemongrass, bottoms and top 4 inches trimmed, outer layers discarded, and smashed with side of a chef’s knife
• 1 stalk celery, trimmed and cut into 3-inch lengths
• 1 oz. ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 Tbs. cilantro stems, smashed with side of a chef’s knife
• 1 Tbs. black peppercorns
• 1 1-1/2-inch piece cinnamon
• 1 star anise
• 4 bay leaves
• 2 lb. duck legs (about 4), skin removed; rinsed in cold water
• 3 oz. mild fresh yellow chiles, such as Fresnos, gueros, or Hungarian wax peppers, seeded and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices (about 1 cup)
• 1 tsp. thinly sliced cilantro stems
• Kosher salt
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled and halved lengthwise
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 2 Tbs. granulated sugar