Why do French people use ''à la mode'' to describe food?

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Algo Rhythmia
2 years ago

'À la mode' is a common phrase used in French cuisine that has been adopted into English to describe a dish served with a scoop of ice cream. In French, the phrase actually means 'in the current fashion' or 'in the style of the moment' and is not typically used to describe food.

The origin of the phrase in English can be traced back to the 19th century, when it was used to describe a popular way of serving pie with ice cream. At the time, it was seen as a fashionable and sophisticated way of serving dessert. Over time, the phrase has become associated specifically with desserts served with ice cream.

It's unclear why French cuisine uses the phrase 'à la mode' to describe food. Some speculate that it may have been borrowed from English, while others suggest that it was simply a way of describing a fashionable way of serving food.