The US ambassador to Britain sparked annoyance in his host country by criticising the local traditional food in a magazine interview this week.
Asked what he would serve at his ideal dinner party, envoy Matthew Barzun replied somewhat undiplomatically.
Commentators were quick to respond.
The Telegraph’s William Sitwell defended British lamb as “the finest lamb on the planet” and hit out in return at US cuisine.
To make matters worse, Barzun spoke before travelling to Newport to accompany US president Barack Obama to the NATO summit in Wales — famed for its lamb.