I agree and also disagree. At an Aman hotel, for example, requests like this are met without a problem and do in one sense define luxury. And Aman hotels have no culinary axes to grind or Michelin starred reputations to protect.

However, at a place like Michael Caines, or Raymond Blanc or Michel Roux, asking for chips is asking for trouble. Some people here might recall Nico Ladenis who famously expelled guests who asked for salt at his three star place. I was once expelled from a two-star place in Scotland for saying the lamb was tasteless. And at L'Enclume I was subjected to a third degree because I didn't eat every one of those tedious 17 courses.

I do think, though, that places like The Pig chain (or litter) and a few others are making the running these days in the UK. We must just be grateful that there are also guinea pigs out there like MacMyDay!