National Ice Cream Cone Day
National Ice Cream Cone Day
I scream, you scream, we all scream for National Ice Cream Cone Day on September 22nd.
While ice cream itself has a long history stretching back to the 7th century, ice cream cones weren’t invented until the end of the 19th century. Historical credit is most often attributed to an Italian immigrant named Italo Machioni who invented the ice cream cone and the machine to produce them in 1896 in New York City and was subsequently granted a patent in 1903.
Although a slightly less credible origin, the story of Ernest A. Hamwi is perhaps more well-known. Hamwi was selling his waffle pastry at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis when the ice cream vendor next to him rant out of clean bowls. Hamwi rolled up one of his pastries and handed it to his neighbor saving the day for both businesses and creating a new culinary classic.
However, both of these come after the appearance of the earliest mentions in an 1825 French cookbook where they are referred to as little waffles and were rolled into the shape of cones.
Regardless of who was the first to invent the ice cream cone, the real winner in the innovation game was an inventor from Oregon who, in 1912, received a patent for his waffle cone-making machine. In 1928, he sold his company to Nabisco.
So whether you prefer a sugar cone or a waffle cone, two scoops or a double swirl of soft-serve, make sure to head to your local ice cream shop this September 22nd for National Ice Cream Cone Day.
