The hot fudge sundae, a classic dessert, is being celebrated on National Hot Fudge Sundae Day, which is observed every year on July 25. This dessert has been a staple in many restaurants and ice cream shops for over a century.
History of the Hot Fudge Sundae
Two towns, Two Rivers in Wisconsin and Ithaca in New York, claim to be the birthplace of the hot fudge sundae. Two Rivers claims that its soda fountain owner, Edward Berners, poured chocolate syrup over ice cream in 1881, while Ithaca points to a 1892 newspaper advertisement as evidence of its claim.
Other cities, such as Los Angeles, also have a claim to the hot fudge sundae. C.C. Brown’s, a downtown candy shop that opened in 1906, later moved to Hollywood and became known for its celebrity customers before closing in 1996.
Modern-Day Hot Fudge Sundae
Today, the hot fudge sundae can be found on 15.3% of U.S. restaurant menus, up from 13.7% five years ago. Many restaurants are now treating sundaes as composed desserts, adding unique ingredients such as pistachio, pretzel, and blueberry.
Some old-fashioned pharmacy counters and soda fountains still serve sundaes in the traditional way. For example, Eddie’s Sweet Shop in Queens, New York, has been serving hot fudge sundaes and homemade ice cream since 1967. The Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also recreates a turn-of-the-century soda fountain, pouring hot fudge over its Mt. Vesuvius sundae.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
