Foodies

Google’s Ice Cream Sundae Logo

Kitty FloridoApril 3, 2011

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Happy 119th anniversary to the ice cream sundae! The first historically documented sundae was created on Sunday, April 3, 1892.

Food historians are quite certain that Americans served ice cream with toppings prior to the 1890s. But the combination only became a sundae when somebody viewed the completed dish as new and unique—distinct enough in preparation, presentation and taste to be worthy of a special name. That’s exactly what happened in Ithaca in 1892. One Sunday afternoon, after services at the Unitarian Church, Reverend John M. Scott paid his usual visit to the Platt & Colt Pharmacy in downtown Ithaca. Shop proprietor, Chester C. Platt, was church treasurer and he met often with Scott for conversation after services. Seeking refreshment for himself and the reverend, Platt asked his fountain clerk, DeForest Christiance, for two bowls of ice cream. But instead of serving the reverend plain vanilla, Platt took the bowls and topped each with cherry syrup and a candied cherry.

The finished dish looked delightful and tasted delicious—so much so that the men felt obliged to name the new creation. After some debate, Scott suggested that it be named for the day it was created. Platt concurred and the first “Cherry Sunday” was born.