United StatesNational Ice Cream Sandwich Day
An ice cream sandwich is a slab of ice cream pressed between two cookies, wafers, or slices of cake. The classic American version uses vanilla ice cream between two soft, rectangular chocolate wafers, but almost any combination of cookie and ice cream works. Records suggest pushcart vendors in New York's Bowery were selling ice cream between paper-thin wafers by around 1900, charging a penny a sandwich to customers who wanted a treat they could carry. The snack spread quickly. In 1923, Jerry Newberg sold ice cream sandwiches at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field, and around the same period vendors in other cities developed their own takes. The Chipwich, ice cream rolled in chocolate chips between two chocolate chip cookies, became a New York street sensation in 1981, and frozen-food aisles now carry countless versions. Other cultures have their own ice cream sandwiches. In Singapore, street carts serve blocks of ice cream wrapped in rainbow bread or wafers, Scots enjoy a "slider" of ice cream between wafers, and Iranians press saffron ice cream between thin crisp wafers. On National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, grab one from the freezer case or bake your favorite cookies and sandwich a scoop of ice cream between them.
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