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18 Comments
Stephany R.
March 4, 2021
Nah the Medici entourage brought ice cream with them from Italy to France in the mid 1500's and Charles I was crazy for it.
Cinnamin
September 20, 2012
This is why I love Food52!! You guys bring so much to the table. This was a wonderful read. Ice cream with 30 egg yolks sounds more than just rich- it sounds decadent! And oh, I want to travel back in time and be Prof William Dreyer! Delightful read, guys :)
Alexandra H.
August 26, 2012
I highly recommend Elizabeth David's book "Harvest of the Cold Months: The Social History of Ice and Ices"! It's am amazing and engaging cultural history of ice itself, granitas, sorbet, and ice cream. Really fascinating to see how ice/ice cream was woken into our gastronomy centuries before electricity or refrigeration. I first read it over 20 years ago, and (sound culinary-nerd-alert here) it is truly one of my favorite reads ever!
Dtown B.
August 25, 2012
Ice Cream, one of lifes soothing pleasures. I remember being a kid and our neighbor would make homemade ice cream every 4th of July, strawberry, vanilla, peach one flavor every year. It was like Christmas!!! We would sit around watch him make it(drooling) eat it all up then light fireworks way into the night. the epitome of summer. Memories I cherish still for over 30 years now!! I live for ice cream (or good beer)! Thanks for the great article.
ChefJune
August 24, 2012
Laura Weiss published an interesting little book last year called "Ice Cream, a global history." Have you seen that?
I've been making ice cream for such a long time I can hardly remember when I started, but I too remember the enormous hand-crank model my aunts and uncles (farmers in Central Illinois) would break out for family feasts in the summer. For years that was the only kind of ice cream freezer that was readily available, but I had no room to store one, and who was going to eat all that ice cream? (I mean, I possibly could have, but not a good idea...)
My first freezer was an electric Hamilton Beach model that used ice cubes and table salt and made 2 quarts of goodness. We used that one until it died. I know that had to have been back in the 70's.
I've been making ice cream for such a long time I can hardly remember when I started, but I too remember the enormous hand-crank model my aunts and uncles (farmers in Central Illinois) would break out for family feasts in the summer. For years that was the only kind of ice cream freezer that was readily available, but I had no room to store one, and who was going to eat all that ice cream? (I mean, I possibly could have, but not a good idea...)
My first freezer was an electric Hamilton Beach model that used ice cubes and table salt and made 2 quarts of goodness. We used that one until it died. I know that had to have been back in the 70's.
Kristy M.
August 24, 2012
That book is going on my list. Thanks! Love the memories of ice cream makers of the past -- Brette and I have it easy flipping switches on Amanda's machine.
laura W.
August 25, 2012
ChefJune, thanks for the kind words about Ice Cream: A Global History. Kristy, loved the story. One aspect of ice cream history that's often overlooked is the history of ice and of refrigeration. The early ice cream makers you mention had to rely on ice from lakes, rivers and ponds to make their ice creams and to keep them frozen. It wasn't until the early 20th century when artificial refrigeration became widespread that ice cream really developed into a mass market product and flavors like Rocky Road became widely available.
Creative C.
August 23, 2012
I've been making ice cream since I was a little girl; when we all shared the hand cranking duties once or twice a summer to get something magical for dessert. Fast forward to electric ice cream makers and the relative ease but still, a bit messy with that ice cube and salt business.
This year...the new self contained units that make it so easy? I might have overindulged just a bit. Sorbets with fresh seasonal fruit, gelatos with a bit of booze (oh my good) and my latest? The search for my favorite ice cream from childhood typically made only by small local dairies...Butter Brickle. I'm in love. I could make it every single day but with heavy cream, half and half, brown sugar, butter and toffee...I probably shouldn't huh?
Love the history; prophetic as my latest post is my own ice cream history!
This year...the new self contained units that make it so easy? I might have overindulged just a bit. Sorbets with fresh seasonal fruit, gelatos with a bit of booze (oh my good) and my latest? The search for my favorite ice cream from childhood typically made only by small local dairies...Butter Brickle. I'm in love. I could make it every single day but with heavy cream, half and half, brown sugar, butter and toffee...I probably shouldn't huh?
Love the history; prophetic as my latest post is my own ice cream history!
Kristy M.
August 23, 2012
Hey ChefJune, we did read that story, and it turns out that is a big myth!
Kenzi W.
August 23, 2012
Total myth. (As a side note, how much do you love that myths about ice cream exist? The best.)
ChefJune
August 24, 2012
Not too surprising. It was told by an Itallian who has an Italian-name for just about every invention known to humankind. ;)
ChefJune
August 23, 2012
Interesting info. Did you look into Italian history at all? Stories I've heard say that Caterina de 'Medici brought ice cream with her to France from Italy when she married Henri II -- or at least, her chef did.
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