In Search of Flan

We traveled to Mexico City a few weeks ago to meet Herb’s son as well as several friends and to explore some of the important places of Mexico’s long history. And to have flan, the yummy Mexican dessert.

One of the historic sites we visited was Bosque de Chapultepec. A city park since the 16th century, home to the Anthropological Museum (Museo National de Antropolgia) filled with ancient artifacts from before 1700 B.C. to those of present day indigenous tribes. Also Chapultepec castle , Museum of Modern Art and the Monument a los Ninos Heroes just to name a few. It’s a huge area.

On to the Zocolo, or town square, to the Palacio National decorated by the immense historical and political murals painted by famed artist, Diego Rivera. Then to the largest church in Latin America, the Catedral Metropolitana which took almost 3 centuries to build.

By evening it was time to eat, drink and be sorta merry. That’s where the search for flan takes over and the story becomes OCD…

At a small bar/restaurant in the Roma section of the city, we had a nice little dinner complete with margaritas and/or beers. When the time came for dessert, Oh Horrors!!! No flan. I suggested that I should check across the street at another eatery and return with the verdict. Yes! They had flan! You’re probably wondering how this could be connected to OCD. Well….read on.

We decided to share a chocolate cake, an apple tatin and a piece of flan. My friend ordered a small espresso which came with a tiny pitcher of cream and and a small bowl with an array of various sweeteners arranged in a lovely OCD pattern. (See photo 1 for a bad attempt at recreating this)

I smiled and picked up the bowl to look more closely and just as I put it down and reached for my phone (Had to get a photo!) BAM! My friend jammed his fingers into the center, destroying the marvelous symmetry! (See photo 2)

I let out a small scream, gasped, then started to smack him. By now he was laughing as were the rest of us, me included. This uncontrollable laughter lasted for several long minutes. Yes, I wanted to do bodily harm to him, although after considering the possible assault charges, decided against it. But, WOW, what a great OCD story!