On Thursday, the French nun Sister André turned 117 and celebrated with an exceptional feast. A first course of foie gras set the tone for capon with fragrant mushrooms, and was washed down with a hearty glass of red wine.
David Tavella, the communications manager for André’s care home in Toulon, told the Associated Press that red wine is one of André’s secrets to longevity. Across the table, red wine, Champagne, and port flowed as André’s friends toasted in her honor.
The meal concluded a few hours later with Sister André’s favorite dessert, Baked Alaska. It followed a mass in her honor, led by the local Catholic bishop, and a video call with her great, and great-great, nephews.
At this point, Sister André is in line to become the world’s oldest living person. She’s currently Europe’s oldest and the world’s second oldest, right behind Kane Tanaka, who turned 118 last January.
When asked how she’ll celebrate her next birthday, André replied, “I won’t be here next year.” But don’t be perturbed, she’s repeated the phrase every birthday for the last ten years, so winemakers better start setting aside their best reds for the next feast.
