Fishy story

ELIZABETH BONE, of Frejus in southern France, writes of a trip to Torremolinos 'many years ago when it was unknown but beginning to attract tourists. Efforts were made to attract English people. The restaurant we used began to print its menus in Spanish on the left-hand page and English on the right. Among the fish dishes on the left was Rape Andalusian; and - to my delight - the translation on the right was 'Rape in the local manner'. Despite being young, and the waiter being good-looking, I decided to pass up this offer.'

Kathleen Robertson, of Northumberland, says that a delicacy recently on offer at a restaurant in a hotel near Paris was 'smocked lard'. We all know that the French like to dress up their meals, but this does sound extreme.