
Ice cream and cake come together on February 1st in a celebration called National Baked Alaska Day.
- 1802 – Early versions of Baked Alaska appeared as early as 1802. According to historians, Thomas Jefferson was one of the first presidents to serve ice cream at a state banquet in the White House. As the story goes, Jefferson requested the ice cream to be served encased in a hot pastry.
- 1804 – American physicist Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford) – who invented several cooking devices, including the double boiler and the coffee percolator – was curious about the resistance of beaten egg whites to heat. What he discovered was a new dessert, naming it ‘omelette surprise.’
- 1850s – ice cream ‘bombes’ – uniquely shaped molds filled with creamy custard before frozen – and meringue-encased desserts were popular at teas and formal dinners.
- 1855 – Aunt Mary’s 1855 cookbook, The Philadelphia Housewife, was the first to feature a baked meringue, including ‘Apples aux Pommes’ and ‘Baked Alaska Apple Pie.’
- 1866 – Although it was already a popular dish, claims about its genesis continued to be made. In 1866, French food writer Baron Leon Brise stated it was French chef Balzac who introduced the dessert to France
- 1867 – Baked Alaska is invented to capitalize on the controversy that ensues after Secretary of State William Seward agrees to purchase Alaska from Russia for $7 million.
- 1876 – Charles Ranhofer, the chef at Delmonico’s Restaurant in New York City. He was notorious for naming new and renaming old dishes after famous people and events. Capitalizing on the heated controversy surrounding the purchase in the frozen north, Baked Alaska fit the bill. It was cold, nearly frozen and quickly toasted in a hot oven before serving.
- 1895 – It was supposedly later popularized worldwide by Jean Giroix, chef in 1895 at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo.
- 20th Century – many cruise lines feature a “Baked Alaska Parade.” During this event, waitstaff march through dining rooms carrying flaming Baked Alaska desserts, creating a festive atmosphere. This tradition dates back to the early 20th century and remains a highlight on some cruises today.
- 1959 – Alaska’s statehood is confirmed when it was admitted into the Union.
- 2005 – Ben & Jerry’s created the world’s largest Baked Alaska, weighing 1,140 pounds and measuring 4 feet tall, to protest the drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
- This dessert is also called omelette á la norvégienne, Norwegian omelette, omelette surprise, and glace au four (ice cream in oven).
- In France, a similar dessert called “Omelette Norvégienne” features ice cream and cake covered in meringue.
- In Hong Kong, “Flame on the Iceberg” includes ice cream, sponge cake, cream, syrup, and whisky, set alight before serving.
- Early versions of this dessert used pie crusts instead of meringue.
- Baked Alaska has been featured in various films and TV shows as a symbol of luxury dining. Its dramatic presentation makes it a favorite choice for showcasing opulent meals on screen.
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