National Strawberry Parfait Day

June 25th is National Strawberry Parfait Day in the United States.

This is another day celebrating a type of parfait. In this case, it is probably celebrating the American parfait, not the original French frozen dessert which dates back to the nineteenth century, and definitely not the savoury British meat paste, or pâté.

American parfaits are layered desserts, comprised of layers of parfait cream, ice cream and gelatins, that are served in a tall glass and then topped with whipped cream and fruit. In many respects, it actually resembles a sundae of some type. An alternative version of the American parfait is made using layers of yoghurt, granola, nuts or fresh fruit.

For this particular day being celebrated, whichever version of American parfait is made, the fruit used is, of course, strawberries.

National Chocolate Parfait Day

National Chocolate Parfait Day is on May 1st in the United States.

Parfait, depending on where it is ordered, can be used to refer to different dishes. In France, where the dish originates, it is a frozen dessert. The name is French for "perfect." In the UK, it can be used to refer to very smooth pâtés, usually flavoured with liqueurs.

In the US, the name may be used for the French dessert or, alternatively, to the American variant, which is also a frozen dessert.

American parfait is a layered dessert served in a tall, clear glass. Parfait cream - the actual French dessert made from sugar syrup, egg and cream - is layered with ice cream and/or flavoured and coloured gelatins. This would then be topped with whipped cream, fruit, either fresh or canned, and possibly liqueurs. A variant of American parfait uses yoghurt, granola and nuts or fresh fruits - a rather healthier version.

In a chocolate parfait, there is, of course, chocolate. This will probably include chocolate ice cream and could include such as chocolate sauces or pieces.

National Parfait Day

November 25th is National Parfait Day in the United States.

There are actually at least three different dishes called parfait, depending on where you ask for one. In France, parfait is a type of frozen dessert, but in the United Kingdom, it is a meat paste or pâté.

This particular day is celebrated in the United States, so it's the United States version of parfait that is the correct dish, although even in the US, parfait refers to two different dishes.

The first of these is the traditional French parfait. The second is, like the French dish, also a dessert.

This dish is a layered one. Parfait cream, ice cream and flavoured gelatins are layered in a tall dessert glass and then topped with whipped cream, fruit and, sometimes, liquers. An alternative version uses yoghurt instead of ice cream and cream, and layers of fruits, nuts and granola.