It's better if you're black not white rice

Once you go black you never look back. So goes the old maxim. It works for rice; doesn't work so well applied to Michael Jackson.

It might be tenuously put together, my whole Jackson/race/rice theme, but it's nice and timely with the 50-year-old King of Poppets being wheeled by the bailifs for one last creaky-limbed boogy round the 02 Arena. Meanwhile, head chef at Gilgamesh Ian Pengelley launches a menu using only black rice. Coincidence? I think not. Political dig at Jacko? Maybe - that's all i'm saying.

Anyho. In the whole white vs brown debate, apparently black is the best (we're talking rice now). Black rice is wildly cultivated across Asia, with Chinese black rice often the most popular for its slightly nutty flavour.  It contains more nutrients than both white and brown rice and also has high levels of the antioxidant anthocyanin. According to some boffins black rice can actually lower cholesterol. It also lacks the high levels of bran found in brown rice so can be ideal for those following a diet low in carbohydrates.

If you fancy checking it out at Gilgamesh, scroll down for a list of dishes.