Good Food Blog
The credit munch
Posted at 11:19AM, 10 October 2008 by Graham Holliday - blogger
The newspapers are full of grim tidings, apocalyptic warnings and there's the promise of miserable Christmas ahead. In times of crisis it's traditional, maybe even genetic, to turn to food. Chocolate, biscuits, crisps and comfort food of every sugary and salty shade wriggle out of secret stash points to help stave off the grimness that we all know is coming. But, as you peel open your packet of Jaffa Cakes spare a thought for the British government.
We might be worried about where the next mortgage payment is coming from, they're trying to save the entire country from the financial abyss - at least that's what they tell us. However, not for the government a packet of Rolos, some Twiglets and a slice of chocolate cake. Oh no.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling hit crisis point earlier this week, it's down the local curry house according to The Guardian.
"Anticipating the long and tense night ahead for him and his team, Darling had taken matters in hand at 8.30pm, personally ringing one of his favourite restaurants, Gandhi's in Kennington, south London, to order £245 worth of rice, karahi lamb, tandoori chicken, vegetable curry and aloo gobi."
Not for the government a packet of Rolos, some Twiglets and a slice of chocolate cake. Oh no.
Darling's team conisisted of himself and three ministers. By my rough calculations that's just of £60 per head - what no popadoms? I know there's a food crisis on as well as the credit crisis, but there doesn't appear to be any crisis of conscience when it comes to ordering expensive curries to number 11 Downing Street. Maybe, Darling got a discount, after all he is quoted on the restaurant website along with Gordon Brown, Paddy Ashdown, John Major and Richard & Judy among many others. And maybe £60 per head isn't such a big deal in central London.
Curry is the UK's number one favourite food and certainly rivals a good pizza when the credit munchies hit. But if and when the bean counters come round to foreclose my humble shed, I hope I'll have a packet of Jaffa Cakes to hand. Come a crisis, what do you find yourself reaching for in the larder or from the takeaway delivery menu? Kebab anyone?
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