Bites: Thai PM denied the right to wok

Thailand's Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej (pictured) has decided to put his calling as a TV chef on the back burner following complaints from opponents that his parallel career breeches electoral laws. Samak's weekly show Tasting, Grumbling, where the cantankerous 72-year-old combines traditional Thai cooking and spicy political tirades, has run for seven years.

Meanwhile anti-foie gras campaigners have been dealt a blow as Chicago City Council has voted to repeal its ban on the perennially controversial delicacy. Restaurants in the Windy City have been unable to sell foie gras since August 2006, although many establishments, dubbed "duckeasies", mocked the law by ostensibly giving it away as part of a dish or serving it as an off-menu special. Although ineffective and widely derided, the Chicago ban, which officially ends on 10 June, was an inspiration to opponents of foie gras worldwide, including those who continue to sporadically target UK restaurants that serve it.