Taos Cow – Arroyo Seco, New Mexico
As with many foods “invented” before the widespread documentation and dissemination of information, the “origin” of ice cream is in much dispute with several claimants seeking credit. Several of those origin stories are rather romantic in nature, mired in folklore and legend. Among the historic people to whom the invention or introduction of ice cream have been incorrectly ascribed are King Solomon, Nero, Catherine de’ Medici, Montezuma and even King Charles II. These origin stories are early examples of the fake news so prevalent in modern journalism. Culinary historians agree the progenitor of ice cream as we know it today was based on sweetened water that was iced, ground into little pieces then decorated with various tasting toppings and fruits. The expensive transportation of ice and snow from often distant mountains to the cities limited the widespread propagation of frozen ice teats. It took technological advances across the millennia to make ice cream available to the masses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans consume an average of 23 gallons of ice cream each year (so it’s not just President Biden). Classic vanilla is the most popular flavor under spacious skies, accounting for more than 26 percent of the…