Delmonico's chef Charles Ranhofer created the dessert “Alaska, Florida”. After the U.S. purchased Alaska in 1867, this dessert was rebranded as “Baked Alaska,” aligning with the new American territory’s name. Inspired by the French "Omelette Norwegge," he combined banana ice cream, walnut spice cake, and meringue, torched to a golden brown. This luxurious treat embodied Gilded Age opulence, costing what would be around $40 today. Though English journalist George Augustus Henry Sala mistakenly described the meringue as whipped cream, the dessert has remained popular at Delmonico's, attracting approximately 36,000 diners annually.
