As someone who cooks by the calendar, I’ve always wondered why strawberries and corn on the cob are socially acceptable any time of year, while duck is so often perceived as food for fall and winter.

To roast the duck, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together the salt, Sichuan pepper, cinnamon, star anise, fennel and cloves. Liberally season both sides of the duck legs with ...