SIR,

It was with some degree of irritation and a good helping of disappointment that I read the ill-informed letter – Pleased with Foie Gras protest – published in the Monmouthshire Beacon last week (15th September).

The Crown at Whitebrook prides itself in sourcing as many of the ingredients we use in the kitchen – meat, vegetables, dairy products and fruit – as locally as possible.

It is well known that we strive to support local suppliers and producers whenever and wherever we can.

For the record, we do not currently have Foie Gras on the menu and have not used the product for many months at The Crown.

When the product is on the menu the Foie Gras we use is sourced from a recognised and warranted ethical producer.

The Crown at Whitebrook is one of just four restaurants in the whole of Wales to hold a Michelin star – an accolade it has held for the past four years.

At one stage The Crown was the only restaurant in the whole of Wales with a Michelin star.

The 'world class' Crown – the Good Food Guide's words not ours – is recognised as one of the top restaurants in the UK having been placed in the top 30 in The Good Food Guide 2011, published just last week.

The restaurant, together with our chef James Sommerin, have done more than most, it could be said, in recent years to help put Monmouthshire and, indeed, Wales firmly 'on the map'.

We agreed to sponsor this year's Monmouth Raft Race after being approached by the St David's Foundation who benefit from funds raised through the annual staging of the charitable event.

We were happy to help and agreed to back the event, which had never before had a sponsor, to the tune of £4,000.

We did this in the knowledge that the money would be very well used providing at home care and support through the wonderful services of The St David's Foundation for local people suffering from, or directly affected by, cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

This year's raft race event, the 45th, was, by all accounts, one of the very best in terms of entries, enjoyment and funds raised in recent memory.

We were glad to have been able to play our part in that success.

For those wanting more information please visit crownatwhitebrook.co.uk or stdavidsfoundation.co.uk

David Hennigan

(General Manager, The Crown at

Whitebrook)