Is Baked Alaska the Secret to a Long Life?

[brooklynite]

New York Times

When I read that Sister André celebrated her 117th birthday in the South of France, I clapped for joy. When I read what she had for lunch, I called my friend Zoë François. Sister André, who was a governess in Paris before committing herself to the Sisters of Charity, was born in 1904 and survived the pandemic of 1918, two world wars and a bout of Covid. She lived through the administrations of 18 French presidents and drinks a glass of wine every day. For her birthday, she had more than one. The celebration meal, served in the assisted-living facility where she lives, kicked off with Port and included foie gras with roasted figs, capon with porcini, a cheese plate, wine and a glass of Champagne, of course. But it was the dessert that was most glamorous, and it’s what sent me to Zoë: Sister André’s birthday lunch ended with an omelette norvégienne, a Norwegian omelet, or what we call a baked alaska. The ice cream cake encased in flambéed meringue is one of her favorite desserts. It’s one of Zoë’s too.

Zoë is a pastry chef, the host of a television series, a cookbook author and a woman who knows her way around a blowtorch. Delighted to learn that she and perhaps the oldest person in Europe share an affection for the same sweet, Zoë barely let me finish before she proclaimed, “Bring back the baked alaska!” and began ticking off the reasons the classic deserves a comeback: It’s beautiful, elegant and dramatic — a flaming dessert is an attention-grabber; it’s easy to make; it’s convenient — it can be made ahead; it’s got ice cream (enough said); it’s got meringue — which is the same as saying it’s got magic; it looks gorgeous whole and just as gorgeous sliced; it’s creamy and icy cold inside, marshmallowy all around and warm on the edges. Beauty is built into the meringue, and it has the best ingredient in any recipe: surprise. Baked ice cream balances on the brink of improbability. In other words, it’s perfect.

[Historic NY]

1. DEfinitely....

[Aristus]

2. This might seem a little odd, but one of the best Baked Alaskas I ever had

was at the Officers Club on Fort Knox, Kentucky.

[Hekate]

3. I have never had Baked Alaska, but now that I've read this mouth-watering description...

...I know that some day I must!

[Polly Hennessey]

4. So let me ask: the secret to a long and happy life is

good, very good food; wine and champagne; and baked Alaska. Count me in.

[SoCalDavidS]

5. Antoine's In Nawlins' Has This

They're probably the only place I've ever seen that serves it.

$20, and you have to order at same time you order your meal.

[Celerity]

6. Not if it is the Neo Nazi Baked Alaska

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baked_Alaska_(activist)

Anthime Joseph "Tim" Gionet (born 1987 or 1988), more commonly known as Baked Alaska, is an American neo-Nazi, anti-semitic conspiracy theorist, social media personality and former rapper who gained attention through his advocacy on behalf of alt-right and white supremacist ideology, and through his promotion of anti-Jewish conspiracy theories such as white genocide and Jewish control of the media. He has also used the alias Tim Treadstone.



Neo-Nazi ‘Baked Alaska’ arrested over US Capitol riot

https://www.timesofisrael.com/neo-nazi-baked-alaska-arrested-over-us-capitol-riot/

Tim Gionet, who livestreamed from inside building, faces charges of violent and disorderly conduct and entering a restricted building without lawful authority

[appalachiablue]

7. Yum as a kid at Nick's Restaurant, Yorktown, Va.

It was on Antoine's menu in New Orleans, we closed the bar down one night.

Great dish, fun times.

[Blue_true]

8. Something like that.....

would send me into a terminal quandary over whether to eat it, or just walk around taking pictures of it from every possible angle.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

9. And all along I thought Baked Alaska was a product of global warming.

...........

Just kidding but this 73 Y.O. still with an addictive sweet tooth would not be able to resist. I love anything with meringue and helped my mom whip the stuff 'till my arm fell off for pies as a kid, the old-fashioned way.

Will put that on my "do before I die" bucket list.... .......

[electric_blue68]

10. So.... THAT'S what Baked Alaska is! Never knew.