Ice Cream History

Ice cream was probably “discovered” in the 1600’s. It is said that Charles I of England, or rather, his chef made ice cream a staple of the royal table. Rumor has it either the chef had a secret recipe for ice cream and the king paid him a handsomely to keep it a secret, or the chef was threatened with the guillotine if he divulged the recipe. Soon nobility in Europe knew of, and enjoyed, “crème ice.”

After the dessert was imported to the United States, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson served it to their guests. In 1700, Governor Bladen of Maryland was recorded as having served it. In 1774, a London caterer named Philip Lenzi announced in a New York newspaper that he would be offering for sale ice-cream “almost every day.” In 1812, Dolley Madison created a sensation when she served a magnificent strawberry ice cream known as, creme d'glace at President Madison's second inaugural banquet at the White House. Kelly provide link here. I have included a recipe in the recipes pages.

“Records show that President George Washington spent approximately $200 for ice cream during the summer of 1790. Inventory records of Mount Vernon taken after Washington's death revealed "two pewter ice cream pots." President Thomas Jefferson was said to have a favorite 18-step recipe for an ice cream delicacy that resembled a modern-day Baked Alaska. Kelly provide link here. I have included the recipe in the recipes pages.

The 15 Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors

1. Vanilla

2. Chocolate

3. Butter pecan

4. Strawberry

5. Neapolitan

6. Chocolate chip

7. French vanilla

8. Cookies and cream

9. Vanilla fudge ripple

10. Praline pecan

11. Cherry

12. Chocolate almond

13. Coffee

14. Rocky road

15. Chocolate marshmallow

Source: International Ice Cream Association, 888 16th St., Washington, D.C

Top 10 Ice Cream Consuming Countries in the World

1. United States

2. New Zealand

3. Denmark

4. Austrailia

5. Belgium / Luxembourg

6. Sweden

7. Canada

8. Norway

9. Ireland

10. Switzerland