What is National Baked Alaska Day?
On February 1st, ice cream and cake were served together in a commemoration named National Baked Alaska Day.
Baked Alaska is made with hard ice cream on a base of sponge cake and topped with a shell of toasted meringue, making an intricate dessert that is also known as "Omelette Norvegienne."
In 1867, an earnest discussion erupted in the United States over the prospect of purchasing Alaska from Russia. Alaska became a United States territory in 1868, according to Secretary of State William Seward, who agreed to a purchase price of $7 million. Many of those of the belief that the purchase was a huge mistake referred to it as "Seward's Folly."
Enter Charles Ranhofer, the chef at Delmonico's Restaurant in New York City, is the chef. He was known for naming new and renaming old dishes after famous people and events. Baked Alaska fit the bill, capitalizing on the tense debate surrounding the purchase of frozen north. It was cold, almost frozen, and quickly toasted in a hot oven before serving.
He worked as the chef at Delmonico's from 1862 to 1896. During his tenure, he also created Lobster Newburg, another popular dish associated with a national food holiday.
