Lafayette, Washington, Jefferson, and Ice Cream

July 18, 2021 Journal

Today, Sunday, July 18, 2021, is National Ice Cream Day! Thanks to President Ronald Reagan, we celebrate National Ice Cream Day every third Sunday in July. In 1984, Reagan decreed a day for ice cream, and his proclamation actually promotes the dairy industry in America. Over ninety percent of the US population enjoy ice cream on a yearly basis. The average American consumes twenty-three gallons of ice cream each year which makes the United States the leading consumer of ice cream in the world.

George Washington was known for his consumption of this sugary treat. The first reference to ice cream at George Washington’s Mount Vernon was in May of 1784. A “Cream Machine for Ice” was acquired and utensils for preparing and serving ice cream were purchased by Washington on several occasions during the presidency. Thomas Jefferson was the first to serve ice cream at the President’s House in Washington. Jefferson thoroughly enjoyed the treat and is falsely attributed with introducing the treat in the United States. However, Jefferson is credited with the first known recipe recorded by an American.

(Collage by Eritrea Dorcely. Source material: iStock image / Illustration by Cheryl Chalmers)

After a little searching, it was discovered that at least two creameries in America serve ice cream #inthespiritoflafayette. Brooker’s Founding Flavors Ice Cream in Utah and Lafayette Creamery in Michigan have menu items that relate to the founding of the United State and Lafayette. If you are ever in either of these states you ought to check them out!