I recall last year a few FT'ers drove with Rudi and Gisela from Basel to a lunch in rural France for his birthday.

There was a small Michelin listed restaurant he wanted to visit

It was a very long lunch ..... 4 hours IIRC? Maybe longer, but it was superb. Punki and Hunki were also there. I think Punki just ate salad.

Lots of courses, and all accompanied by a specific wine the sommelier chose specially. Maybe 7 bottles - I have misplaced the copy of the menu Rudi later kindly mailed me with all the wine labels on it, that the sommelier presented him with.

Restaurant hand-made on site, pate de fois gras ..... the works.

The bill was about 1000 Euros if I recall. Pretty serious lunch money seeing none of us were expensing it. But a VERY memorable way to spend an afternoon. ^