French fries were invented in Belgium. No self respecting French person would eat them.

Well, on my regular visits to France, I indulge regularly in the Frenchman's time-honoured moules et frites - available everywhere and very popular as a Sunday lunchtime meal in cafés smart and not-so-smart.

As for Cuba, I had the great pleasure of seeing the musicians of the Buena Vista Social Club band play in Brighton some years ago. They were all wonderful, and the star of the show was pianist Rubén Gonzales. Superb music. Ry Cooder, I believe, paid a hefty fine to the US Government when he was invited to Cuba to produce the Buena Vista album.