A Gascony-inspired bank holiday banquet in London

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Duck will take centre stage for this feast at Quo Vadis, cooked by guest chef Andrew Clarke

For those not heading to France this August bank holiday, London restaurant and members’ club Quo Vadis will be bringing a taste of Gascony to London with a one-off duck feast on Saturday August 26 (£64, non-members welcome, starts at 1pm).

Cooked by special guest Andrew Clarke – chef director of Brunswick House and alumnus of Wild Honey, St John, The Square and Salt Yard – the thoroughly lavish menu is not just a menu, according to Clarke, but a whole concept that he calls “Bastien” and describes as “a French barbecue of sorts”.

Inspired by the duck-focused cuisine of southwest France, the menu begins with cep, truffle and bone marrow gougères; duck liver and foie gras parfait with salted gooseberry; and duck hearts with trotter, girolles, blueberries and mint. The main attraction, however, will be the 14-day dry-aged duck with green olives, Cornish potatoes and pound farm leaves. The only duck-free course will be the pudding – an almond tart, almond cake and three plums created by Quo Vadis chef proprietor Jeremy Lee (who will also be in the kitchen to work on the mains).

“It’s a great honour having Andrew agree to cook with us,” says Lee. “We’ve always been great fans of his and he’s looked after us so beautifully at Brunswick House, so we are thrilled to be getting a dress rehearsal for his new restaurant.”