Baked Alaska...

[bepsf]

Does anyone else here find it tiresome?
Where does the tradition come from anyway?

After experiencing way too much creme de menthe in my last two baked alaska's and varying degrees of tackiness (sparkers stuck like candles in the top vs. chafing dish burners embedded in the merangue - ugh!) it has to be the worst dessert ever.

With the separate dining times on the different levels - would anyone really miss this anachronism?

[Ziggy7]

I say bring back the flaming cherries jubilee! hehehehe JMHO :)

[jhannah]

Also known as: omelette á la norvégienne, Norwegian omelette, omelette surprise, glace au four. Ice cream encased in some sort of hot casing (pastry crust or meringue).

Baked Alaska consists of hard ice cream on a bed of sponge cake, the whole thing is then covered with uncooked meringue. This 'cake' is kept in the freezer until serving time, when it is placed in a very hot oven, just long enough to brown the meringue. Some brown it under a broiler, while others use a small blowtorch (propane) to brown the meringue.

Early versions of this dessert consisted of ice cream encased in a piping hot pastry crust. A guest of Thomas Jefferson at a White House dinner in 1802 described the dessert as "Ice-cream very good, crust wholly dried, crumbled into thin flakes."

The later version consisting of ice cream on sponge cake covered with meringue and browned quickly in a hot oven, is claimed as being created by many people, and popularized by many others. American physicist Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford) claimed to have created it in 1804, after investigating the heat resistance of beaten egg whites. This was called omelette surprise or omelette á la norvégienne.

And then there is the story of it being passed on to the French in the mid 19th century when a Chinese delegation was visiting Paris. The Master-cook of the Chinese mission was staying at the Grand Hotel in 1866, and the French chef at the hotel (Balzac?) learned how to bake ice cream in a pastry crust in the oven from him.

The name Baked Alaska originated at Delmonico's Restaurant in New York City in 1876, and was created in honor of the newly acquired territory of Alaska. An Englishman (George Sala) who visited Delmonico's in the 1880s said: "The 'Alaska' is a baked ice....The nucleus or core of the entremet is an ice cream. This is surrounded by an envelope of carefully whipped cream, which, just before the dainty dish is served, is popped into the oven, or is brought under the scorching influence of a red hot salamander."

It is was supposedly later popularized worldwide by Jean Giroix, chef in 1895 at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo.

Personally, I like it! :)

[stanford's girl]

Have to agree with Jim, I like it too!:) But only if it is prepared correct. It's like tiramisu-- great when it's done right and awful when it's not.:(

[lambcom]

I think it's impossible to make "great" baked Alaska for 1,200 to 2,000 people. I think most passengers on their first cruise are thrilled (for lack of a better word) by the parade, sparklers, etc. Hoiwever, by the third or fourth cruise, I think most of us "oh, here we go again" or words to that effect. I'll pick a dessert from the regular menu, thank you very much.

I guess the tradition will continue as long as there are first-time cruisers...

[Typhoon1]

I love it, cruises are the only chance I get to enjoy this delightful dessert. Baked Alaska on Parade is always one of my favorites. Not the parade or sparklers, just the Baked Alaska.

[JDee]

On recent Splendour cruise, had a very good Baked Alaska sans the parade. Waiter advised eliminated the parades as one time a waiter slipped (rough seas) and the cake landed on some pax which resulted in some litigation. With the split dining times on HAL, think it's time for the parade to go.....Just have the Baked Alaska as just another dessert choice....

[flamingogal]

Flying Baked Alaska would be something to see!!! :p

[FoxyTerrier]

I say bring back the flaming cherries jubilee! hehehehe JMHO :)

I can't agree more - yum - cherries jubilee!!!!
Everytime I turned down the BA I feel like I'm huring the feelings of the wait staff. We have cruised more in April than any other month as it is filled with many birthdays and anniversaries and we not don't tell HAL so we don't the the celebration cake. Everyone would rather have a regular nightly dessert and my DH actually prefers the cheese plate. Go figure that one.
:)

[dakrewser]

I wouldn't miss the parade. I woyldn't miss the Baked Alaska, either!

http://www.cs.kent.edu/~walker/photos/03-12-28_Cruise/04-01-03_Sea/index004.jpg

-dave

[jaguarstyper]

Hey Dave, we actually agree on something :)

I say deep six the whole baked alaska thing.

Tim

[mhshapiro]

Hmmm. Maybe a few baked Alaska food fights would help bring an end to this "tradition".

[Allis154]

On the Qe2 in 2003, I ordered a different dessert than the Baked Alaska. My waiter was persuded me tto have it, but I also asked for my other dessert. The Alaska went uneaten, but the other didn't!

I make Baked Alaska on occasion. I like it when the meringue is fully cooked. Most of the time in restaurants, it isn't.

[ron46936]

Holy Cow !! Eliminate the Baked Alaska parade? What are they thinking about.

Some lines have done away with the Baked Alaska parade and I didn't miss it a bit. Actually a parade I did enjoy wasn't on a cruise ship but at a banguet in Mexico. The waiters did a parade as they brought out the bread baskets. The timing is a lot better to kick of the meal instead of interupting.

[allen.crawford]

I don't care if there is a parade or not, but DEFINITELY don't mess with my baked alaska!!!! They even served on Costa!

By far my favourite dessert is baked alaska. It is way too much of a pain to prepare at home (especially for just 2) so it is one of the things I look forward to when cruising.

Hmm, sounds like there is a poll in the offing on this one!

[CDRMark]

DW and I cruised for the first time in November, and experienced our first parade. I cannot tolerate baked Alaska, and usually disdain spectacle, but wouldn't have missed the parade for the world. Corny as Kansas in August, along with the singing, but funny/schmaltzy tradition. Maybe when I get jaded....
Cheers
MarkB

[trubey]

I wouldn't miss the parade. I woyldn't miss the Baked Alaska, either!
-dave

Your comment reads two ways. Is this like the job recommendation "You're lucky if you get this guy to work for you".

susan.

[dakrewser]

Your comment reads two ways. Is this like the job recommendation "You're lucky if you get this guy to work for you".

susan.

Ambiquity is a lost art, isn't it? :)

But, just to keep the record straight, I did "give a miss" to both the parade and the dessert on my last cruise, and would much prefer the return of the Dover Sole than the preservation of the parade....

[FCOWHER]

I love a PARADE! Especially one that serves food at the end. Joe V.


Serenade of the Seas 12/31/05
Zuiderdam 4/23/05
RCI - 2 times
Princess - 3 times
QE2 - 1 time
Royal Majesty - 1 time
Carnival - 1 time

[Himself]

It is tough on the diabetes but I love Baked Alaska and I love the parade.

[iluvcruzin]

I like the parades. The Baked Alaska varies by cruiseline. The one I had on Princess last week was to die for. It was a good 12+ inches tall. They varied in icecream. Ours had golden vanilla, Toasted Almond (I think) and Chocolate. YUMM..

[tomc]

and Chocolate. YUMM.. Hey, luv, are you RuthC's friend? She's down with the flu and wanted me to tell you alllll the details. I'd rather do it by e-mail rather than here. Send me a note: tomcarten@hotmail.com

[cruisegirl]

I vote for getting rid of it! My first cruise I thought it was pretty neat but after seeing it on cruise after cruise the fascination is gone. Besides there are always other desserts I'd rather have and about half of the time by the time they serve the Baked Alaska it's too late to order anything else.

[Ziggy7]

Hey, luv, are you RuthC's friend? She's down with the flu and wanted me to tell you alllll the details. I'd rather do it by e-mail rather than here. Send me a note: tomcarten@hotmail.com Tom,
Please tell RuthC to get well soon !!!

[kmw]

Just give me a nice Creme Brulee and leave the blowtorch in the galley.

KMW