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Dining out on a budget

Thursday, 18th December 2008

The International Monetary Fund says that Spain's economy will shrink by at least 1.0 percent next year instead of the of 0.2 percent forecast in October, and it risks entering an extended period of stagnation unless sweeping structural reforms are carried out.

"The near term prospects are somber and uncertain," the report posted on the IMF web site notes, adding that "the medium-term recovery also crucially depends on progress with implementing comprehensive structural reforms. In their absence, Spain could get stuck in a low-competitiveness, slow-growth, extended-deleveraging, and high-unemployment equilibrium, from which returning to lower public debt would be difficult."

Are the Spanish worried about all this? Not if their conservative representatives in the European Parliament are any guide. In these parlous times, they decided to hold their Christmas bash at Au Crocodile,  the most famous and expensive restaurant in Strasbourg.
 
Crisis? What crisis?
 
Gastronomic note: Au Crocodile starters range from €16 for hare soup to €78 for Homard "bleu" et Rémoulade de Céleri au Gingembre. The fish course starts at €40, or you might choose Filet de Boef at €47. A selection of cheeses will set you back €19 and if you want pudding, too, allow about €18. Or perhaps our Spanish friends opted for the nine-course set menu at just €130 a head.

Merry Christmas.

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