Why Baked Alaska?

Last Sunday was British Yorkshire Pudding Day! How did I know this amazing fact? Easy, friends invited us to a delicious roast beef lunch served with the traditional puddings and told us about it.

Brilliant, I thought, instead of worrying every day about what to have for dinner, I could just create a year’s menu around these special days. Today for example is Charles Dickens Day so gruel for dinner, yummy! Ok so maybe this theory won’t work.

According to one website, 1st February is Baked Alaska Day. This got me thinking about the numerous times I have witnessed the Baked Alaska Parade on various different cruise lines. This is usually held on the Gala Night on board which is generally the last formal night of your cruise and is held in the dining room as you are eating your dinner. Suddenly the lights will dim and usually to rapturous applause, the waiting staff will proudly parade around the tables holding aloft these creamy creations lit with sparklers.

Now I really like Baked Alaska so I enjoy this tradition. I have to admit, I have never really thought too deeply about it before now, but have started trying to find out where this rather bizarre tradition arose. There are many theories. One goes back to ancient times when food was offered to the gods in return for their blessing for a safe voyage. Another was to celebrate ice cream being served on a ship for the first time as it was then a rarity. Yet another said that this fine desert used up ingredients that may be left over after a long voyage and so is served at the end of the cruise.

Variations of the recipe go back a couple of hundred years but the name is thought to have originated at New York restaurant Delmonico’s in 1867 where the delectable combination of frozen cream and toasted meringue on sponge cake was served in celebration of the USA gaining Alaska from Russia.

So, to sum it up, I love the desert and the tradition but don’t have a clue why it originated.

Does anyone have the answer? If so , I’d love to hear and if not, It’s fun as a mystery.