Chicken Nuggets

Why did the chicken cross the road?
Well he didn’t so much cross the road, mi'Lud, as cross the unbroken white line running down the centre of it in a rash overtaking manoeuvre…

Why did the chicken biker cross the road?
To get to its local Henda dealer.

Why did the other chicken biker cross the road?
To talk to a passing Duckati…
Biker Chick

There, bike references done. Fowl, weren’t they? They do, though, provide me with an excuse to feature the new banner, opposite, in support of the Chicken Out! campaign currently being undertaken by chefs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver. The basic premise, for anyone unversed in Channel 4’s latest food series, is to highlight the ridiculous way in which chickens are farmed in the UK and to persuade, cajole, nag and politely ask people to change their meat-shopping habits for a more ethical, healthy, responsible agenda. Yes, yes, I know there are more important things in the world to worry about than the plight of some would-be drumsticks. But as an example of the UK’s attitude to food, its collective lack of care and its willingness to be duped by sophisticated – and not so sophisticated – retail marketing, its place in the current zeitgeist should be applauded and supported. How so many people truly believe that it’s cheaper and quicker to buy pre-packed junk and serve it as food than it is to buy good ingredients and cook them, as opposed to reheat them, really, honestly astonishes me. And the fact that for every £8 spent in the retail sector in the UK, £1 of it goes to Tesco should astonish and concern everyone.

Anyway, hoorah for Hugh. Check it out, and as my local butcher put it, in a politically incorrect yet heartfelt way, may all chickens have natural breasts like Sabrina’s.