Ice Cream Sundae!
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According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the origin of the term sundae is obscure. Various American localities claim the invention of ice cream topped with syrup. Thomas Jefferson enjoyed maple syrup on a dish of vanilla ice cream, which sounds like a sundae although the name wasn't invented until later. The newspaperman H. L. Mencken reported that the sundae was invented in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, although he later admitted that this was a hoax. Other sources state that the ice cream sundae originated in Plainfield, Illinois; Evanston, Illinois; New York City; New Orleans, Louisiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo, New York; or Ithaca, New York.
Of the many stories about the invention of the sundae, one common theme is the sinfulness of the Ice Cream Soda and the need to produce a substitute for the popular treat for consumption on Sunday.
Gretchen Sachse of the Tompkins County, New York and the DeWitt Historical Society provides this account of how the sundae came to be: One hot Sunday afternoon in 1891 in Ithaca, New York, John M. Scott, a Unitarian Church pastor, and Chester Platt, Platt & Colt Pharmacy partner, created the first known sundae. Mr. Platt covered dishes of ice cream with syrup and candied cherries on a whim. The Platt & Colt soda fountain featured sundaes thereafter. The first documented advertisement for a "Cherry Sunday" was placed in the Ithaca Daily Journal in 1892 by Chester Platt.
There is currently a heated debate between Ithaca and Two Rivers over which city has the right to claim the title "birthplace of the ice cream sundae." Ithaca mayor Carolyn K. Peterson has recieved over 30 postcards since June 27, 2006 from Two Rivers residents claiming that their city is the birthplace of the sundae. The postcards were in response to Peterson's official proclamation June 26th at Purity Ice Cream that Ithaca had proof to call the sundae its own.
Hot fudge sundae
The classic hot fudge sundae is generally a creation of vanilla ice cream, hot chocolate sauce (hence the "hot fudge") whipped cream, nuts, and a single bright red maraschino cherry on top. However, it is known equally well for being a flexible food, the end result of which generally reflects one's character. A hot fudge sundae can be made with any flavor of ice cream; though, as a chocolate sauce is generally favored, non-chocolate ice cream flavors are preferred. Likewise, any ice cream topping works well on the hot-fudge sundae, and even non-chocolate flavored syrups are sometimes used, or even a combination. The popular combination of vanilla ice cream, chocolate and caramel sauces, and toasted pecans is known as a turtle sundae. In New England, it is not uncommon to see Marshmallow Fluff used in place of whipped cream. A variation of the hot fudge sundae is the banana split, which generally has two extra scoops of ice creams of different flavors, lying over a split banana. In many instances, a hot fudge sundae is thought to be synonymous with plain, simple sundae.The most expensive ice cream sundae
For the price of 1000 U.S. dollars, the most expensive ice cream sundae is the Serendipity Golden Opulence Sundae, sold by the famous Serendipity 3 restaurant in New York City. The dessert consists of five scoops of Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream infused with Madagascar vanilla, covered in 23-carat edible gold leaf, rare Amedei Porceleana and Chuao chocolate, American Golden caviar, passion fruit, orange, Armagnac, candied fruits from Paris, Marzipan cherries, and decorated with real gold dragets. The sundae is served in a baccarat Harcourt crystal goblet with an 18-karat gold spoon.
