Oh this brings back memories.
EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes bought Steve Ballmer of Microsoft dinner at De Beukenhof near her home in Holland in October. It cost her Euro 350.
I spent a few months working on a project in northern Holland in the late 80s, and while I am sure it is a step down from her restaurant, it reminded me of the place I frequently had dinner - d'Olde Schuur in Rolde. Country inn hospitality. Simple but great food (except the Advocaat). I loved a spinach dish so much they offered to rename it "Spinazie Vinnie" - while assuring me that asparagus was more popular with the locals -)
A few months later, the multi-national team on the project decided to have a reunion. We met at a Brazilian churrascaria in Paris. Great evening, but both my wife and I were on a low-meat diet around then, and as we evenly split the bill, I remember it was the most expensive salad we had ever eaten - and it was not even a spinach one!
Steve Ballmer got his "over priced salad" yesterday and has me beat by a long shot. He ended up with a tab of Euro 899 million. And when I was in Europe, the dollar was strong. Relative to the British pound (no euros back then), the dollar was almost twice as strong as today.
Double ouch!
I can only think of one worse punishment. Being forced to drink Advocaat every night for a year-)
