Garlic

All you need to know about the stinking rose, and why one's head of state will not be doing as the Romans do.

1. The Queen is in Rome, visiting the Pope. As is customary, she has let it be known, discreetly of course, that seafood will not be on the menu. This is not, as Alan Coren suggested on Radio Four, because she is Jewish.

2. Somehow it has also been rumoured that she does not care for garlic.

3. That's a shame, we respectfully suggest, because garlic is not only nice, but tremendously good for you. Indeed, it's chic to reek.

4. It has any number of medicinal properties, some of them rather obscure.

5. It is known to reduce cholesterol, and may even help prevent cancer.

6. It's also terribly good for pregnant women, ma'am.

7. There are a great many myths about garlic. Like how it is bad for vampires, but good for conceiving girls.

8. It can be consumed, in a non-monarchical context, in any number of delicious ways, some of them decidedly novel.

9. In short, it's easy to grow, it's very good for you, and it is an important part of one's heritage.

10. Oh, and Greeks like it.