Letter: Unpalatable pud

From Mr Patrick Hodgkinson

Sir: Like Matthew Harris, Bibendum's chef (Magazine: "Full fig", 9 December), I also dislike Christmas pudding. It still holds memories of a fearsome aunt who served its fried leftovers to us children 60 years ago without taking no for an answer. Could the Victorians have thought of a more nauseous bridge between goose and stilton?

Sensible is summer pudding. Cleaning the teeth, it prepares the palate for cheese, bringing with it the promise of summer to come - royally poetic. And brandy butter with the cream: ye gods!

Yours etc,

Patrick Hodgkinson

Bath

10 December