Just last night I went to Senses, newly made over as a customer-friendly boite and with pleasingly idiosyncratic menu by Patrick Lin, and ate foie gras three ways, sauteed, poached and a little bloc of terrine. All of them slipped down like silk. How much longer will I be able to eat foie gras as animal power grows. I just hope Canada driven by Quebec resists the efforts of the animal activists to have the supreme gourmet dish banned. Foie gras is now banned in Germany, Israel, Poland, Norway, Chicago and California, all places the true foodie should avoid. Leading supermarkets in Britain don't carry it either but specialty stores do.

Now comes word that the Prince of Wales after a chat with the snowdrops decided he would give up foie gras, and in a churlish unneighbourly act, he's removing the royal warrant from a local shop House of Cheese which sells foie gras to eager buyers.

Wonder if the House of Cheese will retaliate by refusing to stock the Prince's own overpriced and high calorie brand Duchy Originals. Beats me how the prince can't produce as good a chocolate and fresh ginger biscuit as the cheaper Marks and Spencer brand.