Michelin-starred chef taunts vegans with dead ducks after they stormed posh restaurant to protest foie gras

A LEADING London chef taunted a group of animal rights activists with two dead ducks after they stormed his posh restaurant.

Activist group Direct Action Everywhere (DXE) stormed The Square in Mayfair to protest over its use of foie gras in its cooking.

But their protest last Saturday was disrupted when the executive chef Clément Leroy proudly waved around two dead ducks.

Disgusted members of Direct Action Everywhere chanted “It’s not food. It’s violence” after storming the restaurant in the afternoon before evening service had started.

One activist said: “This guy seemed to be proud of the cruelty involved. He was waving dead bodies around far from the food preparation area.

“I’m sure local food safety officers will be interested in his actions.”

Protesters also targeted So Japanese restaurant in Soho as well as Fortnum and Mason – both of which sell foie gras.

Foie gras is seen as a controversial practice where geese and ducks are force-fed – making their livers expand to many times their natural size.

A DXE spokesman said: “DXE is a worldwide animal rights organisation which promotes peaceful protests to wake society up to the cruelty and suffering involved in meat, dairy, fish and egg production.

“We aim to awaken people’s compassion in order to bring about a vegan world.”

The Square is a Michelin star restaurant that specialises in “modern haute” cuisine.

A spokeswoman for the restaurant said: “As a Michelin star restaurant The Square are proud to serve international delicacies to our discerning guests.

Mr Leroy said: “Our Foie Gras encased in Beeswax is one of my signature dishes which our regular guests especially enjoy.

“We are a Michelin Star French restaurant and this delicacy is sought after in fine dining establishments”.

“We welcome any diners wishing to try our specialist cuisine to enjoy lunch or dinner with us at The Square, one of Mayfair’s institutional eateries.”

The restaurant is owned by restaurateur Marlon Abela and part of the MARC Group.

Members of DXE stormed a Brazilian restaurant in November last year and played recordings of cows being slaughtered as diners tucked into their steaks.

The group stormed the Touro Steakhouse in Brighton but were ordered to leave with jeering diners chanting “you’re not singing anymore” as they were marched out.