The lady was for churning! Thatcher loved Lymeswold cheese… but no garlic

her book – Downing Street Cook – released by the National Archives, Mrs Warner lists Mrs Thatcher’s favourite recipes, describing them as the ‘simple yet superbly conceived dishes she has requested time and time again’.

Her thoroughly English choices included egg, cucumber and watercress mousse, chicken cooked with lime and tarragon, veal with oranges and watercress and gooseberry soufflé with elderflowers.

‘She has baked exquisite pastries for Eduard Shevardnadze and the Reagans, fed the War Cabinet during the Falklands Conflict, cooked delicious lunches for important Downing Street guests, prepared feasts to mark Trooping the Colour and celebration suppers after General Election victories,’ the book said.

British tastes: Maggie MARGARET Thatcher’s favourite recipes and foods were revealed in the files Sherry Warner, the cook at Downing Street since 1981, said that the Prime Minister would only serve British cheese and was never served garlic. The chef added that she had ‘witnessed all the victories and crises’ of Mrs Thatcher’s premiership. After the 1987 General Election, Mrs Thatcher dined on mangetout and french bean salad and hot new potatoes with vinaigrette. Guests at the ‘impromptu’ supper included politicians Willie Whitelaw and John Wakeham. Mrs Warner said Mrs Thatcher ‘insisted’ on serving British cheeses, including her favourite blue Lymeswold. But she apparently never used garlic at No 10, though she did not say why. In