Wrapping Up a Month in Maui with Roasted Duck and Flan, and Preparing for the Re-Opening of Notre Dame de Paris!

THANKSGIVING IN NICE

With 11 hours between me in Maui and our community Thanksgiving Dinner in Nice, I woke up early on Thanksgiving morning to get the report on how the dinner went—with 55 people registered and almost as many on a waiting list to get a seat. Our Nice team: Patty Sadauskas, Ella Dyer, Katie Friedland and Kathy Grassi, managed the event in my place, but I had recorded a 2-minute Welcome Message to play before saying “Bon Apétit” and “Happy Thanksgiving.”

The staff at Oscar Restaurant were very proud to show off their beautifully roasted turkeys. The report I got was that everything was delicious and that Oscar did an outstanding job! Next year, we will likely take over the lower level of the restaurant, too—if we have as many as 100 people who wish to come!

So, mark your calendars now for November 27th next year when we will do a repeat performance!
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THANKSGIVING IN MAUI

My daughter talked me into making the flan/crème caramel for Thanksgiving that I was once well-known for among friends…30 years ago. A flan is a baked custard dessert with a layer of caramel on top. It’s as simple as it gets, but there are good flans and bad flans, and then there are those that are great. Mine was GREAT! It was a recipe taught me by a friend when she moved away and it was so special that it became well-known among our many dinner guests.

Flan’s history can be traced back to the Roman Empire, where it was originally a savory dish made with eggs, milk, and honey. The word “flan” comes from the Old High German word flado, which means “flat cake.” (The Romans were the first to domesticate chickens, which led to an egg surplus!) As the Roman Empire expanded, flan spread throughout Europe. In Spain, the sweet version of flan became popular, and the signature caramel drizzle was added. The Spanish brought flan to the Americas, where it became a delicacy.

When we came to France and I attempted to make it, it didn’t work—the ingredients all being very different. The milk, cream, sugars…none of it was right. So being on U.S. soil, we thought we’d try it again. Finding the right recipe was the key. Thanks to my limited memory and AI, we came up with exactly the right one! Most call for condensed milk, but this one does not, and that’s what I believe makes the difference. It cooked up perfectly. We stared at it for hours before serving it for dessert. Then flipped it which is the toughest part of the entire exercise, without spilling a drop. It was better than ever and we all indulged, even me—going off my non-sugar diet big time!

Thanksgiving in Maui is just the same as anywhere in the U.S., except perhaps more expensive! Americans gather together this one day every year for all the right reasons and it’s no different on the island. When we shopped at Whole Foods for a turkey, they were so enormous that we opted to make duck instead. We knew it was unconventional, but the crowd I’m with is as unconventional as it gets. No one cared and it roasted up beautifully, served with cranberry sauce…of course.

For those who want to try making the flan, here’s the Classic Flan Recipe:

Ingredients

• For the Caramel:
• 3/4 cup granular sugar
• For the Flan Custard:
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1.Prepare the Caramel:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the granular sugar, stirring occasionally, until it turns a deep amber color
• Quickly pour the caramel into a 9-inch round baking dish (or divide it among ramekins if using), tilting to coat the bottom evenly. Set aside to harden

2.Make the Custard:

• Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C)
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and powdered sugar until smooth
• Gradually add the whole milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract, whisking until fully combined and frothy

3.Assemble:

• Pour the custard mixture over the hardened caramel in the baking dish or ramekins
• Place the dish or ramekins in a large baking pan. Fill the pan with hot water halfway up the sides of the dish(es) to create a water bath

4.Bake:

• Bake in the preheated oven for 50–60 minutes, or until the flan is set but still slightly jiggly in the center
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight

5.Serve:

• Run a knife around the edge of the flan to loosen it. Invert the dish onto a serving plate to release the flan and the caramel sauce

Enjoy the silkiest, richest flan you’ve ever tasted!

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ON THE WAY OUT

I’m so happy. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced she will not seek a third term in office, signaling the end of her decade-long tenure. In an interview with Le Mondee published last week, the Socialist politician, who has held office as mayor since 2014, revealed her decision (which had reportedly been made some time ago).

“I will not seek a third term. This decision has been made for a long time. I have always believed two terms are enough to carry out significant change,” Hidalgo said, pledging her support for Senator Rémi Féraud as her preferred successor. (Oh really? This sounds like a lame excuse to me, but what do I know!?)

Hidalgo, known for her ambitious efforts to transform Paris into a greener, more sustainable city, leaves a controversial legacy. I am not the only one who is happy to see her go. Ask any taxi driver!

Her policies promoting the “15-minute city” concept—where essential amenities are accessible by a short walk or bike ride—won global recognition, with figures like former U.S. Vice President Al Gore praising her as “a visionary leader.” These measures, which included restricting car traffic, reducing lanes, and banning SUVs, alienated many suburban commuters and conservative Parisians, and won her no accolades by pedestrians who got ignored in the process, too.

Hidalgo’s exit opens the door for challengers from centrist and right-wing camps. One of her most prominent adversaries, Culture Minister Rachida Dati, has already hinted at her ambitions, positioning herself as a candidate capable of bridging centrist and conservative interests. She’s a tough cookie and it wouldn’t surprise me if the pendulum swings in her direction.

Hidalgo, 65, has been a central figure in Parisian politics for over two decades, first serving as deputy mayor under Bertrand Delanoë before taking office in 2014. Delanoë was my favorite Mayor of Paris of all time. During the years Delanoë was in office, I had the distinctive pleasure of being present when many U.S. mayors and other celebrities met with him, thanks to the Tourist Office Director who was a friend and ensured I was on a special press list. I met Anthony Williams of Washington, DC, Gavin Newsom of California, Michael Bloomberg of New York, Richard Daly of Chicago and even Israeli President Simon Peres and living legend actor Jane Fonda. Those were special moments in my life and really respected him as Paris’ Gay mayor to whom we credit with many accolades: Paris Plages, La Nuit Blanche, the Paris tramway, the Vélib public bike program, Autolib public car system, to name a few. Boy, do I ever miss him.

Hidalgo won re-election comfortably in 2020, her 2022 presidential campaign ended in disappointment, earning just 1.75% of the vote—the worst result in the history of France’s Socialist Party. Maybe that’s the reason she isn’t running for a third term? Her chances of getting re-elected might be pretty slim based on her performance

and unpopularity.

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OUR LADY RESTORED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ONCE AGAIN

Thanks to the expertise of thousands of craftsmen and architects, Notre Dame is set to reopen its doors to the public on December 7th and 8th. Unfortunately, I’ll be on a plane back to Paris when the doors open. Exceptional ceremonies are planned for this reopening.

On April 15, 2019, the whole world watched in shock as the spire of Notre-Dame de Paris fell and its multi-century frame—nicknamed “the forest”—was destroyed by fire. It had taken almost two centuries, from 1163 to the mid-14th century, to build Notre-Dame de Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to have it restored within five years, and he fulfilled his promise.

It took 2,000 workers and craftsmen, supervised by architect Philippe Villeneuve, and five years to restore the cathedral to its former glory, step by step:

• its spire topped by its cross, since December 6, 2023
• a new cockerel atop the spire, since December 16, 2023
• its chevet cross, since May 24, 2024
• its Angel with trumpet, since July 24, 2024
• its chevet cross, since May 24, 2024
• the eight bells of the north belfry, since September 12, 2024

Chevet: the French term for the eastern end of a church, containing the apse and ambulatory, usually with radiating chapels.

While everything must be ready for the reopening on December 7 and 8, some of the work will continue beyond this date, including the restoration of the chevet and sacristy in 2025; installation of stained glass windows in 2026; redevelopment of the cathedral’s forecourt and surroundings, including planting and enhancing the façade, under the direction of Belgian architect and landscape architect Bas Smets.

From 11 million visitors a year before the fire, the number should rise to 14 million by the time of the reopening, or 40,000 visitors a day, according to diocesan estimates. A system of free access in specific time slots will be available a few days before the cathedral reopens, around December 1. The first public visits will be possible beginning Sunday December 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thereafter, admission will be possible without reservation.

The first visitors will discover a completely redesigned interior. New mediation systems have been developed, with particular attention paid to accessibility (3D plates and models, audio description, an educational dossier and an “easy-to-read and understand” booklet), new signage, a “Compagnon de visite” mobile application, publications, guides and catalogs, and almost 500 volunteers to welcome visitors.

For the first six months, until Pentecost (June 9, 2025), access will be restricted to individual visitors and the faithful. Groups will only be able to enter after this period (the date is set for February 1 for pilgrim groups).

Opening hours to the public:

During the reopening week:

– Sunday, December 8, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
– Monday, December 9 to Friday, December 13, 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
– Saturday December 14 and Sunday December 15, 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

From December 16, permanent opening hours are introduced:

– open from 7.45 a.m. to 7 p.m.
– Masses at 8 a.m., 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays; 8:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays; 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. (in Latin); 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays

And here’s a wonderful article by Hugh Schofield of the BBC about how it was restored.

So, in the meantime, check out the ceremonies planned for the event.

I’m leaving Maui today and very sad to leave my daughter and grandson, but have already planned a return trip in 2.5 months time. Next Monday I’ll be writing from Paris…after six days in Los Angeles…so stay tuned for more about what it’s like to be Stateside for a “Parisienne” (me).

A la prochaine…