alamode meaning
Andrew Walker
Updated on July 07, 2026
À la mode is a French expression that is usually used as a culinary term in English. We will examine the meaning of the phrase à la mode, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. À la mode is a primarily American term that means to serve something garnished with ice cream.
What does the Spanish word Alamo mean?
álamo, el ~ (m) poplar, the ~ Noun.
How do you spell Alamode?
If you offer pie à la mode on your menu, be careful not to spell it “ala mode” or—worse—“alamode.” The accent over the first “a” is optional in English, although this is an adaptation of the French phrase à la mode de meaning “in the manner of.” The one-word spelling used to be common, but as people became more
Who is Watson Townsend?
Charles Watson Townsend, in Cambridge, NY
The claim is that while visiting the hotel, Charles Watson Townsend ordered a slice of apple pie with ice cream. When asked by another guest what he called the dish, he named it Pie à la Mode. Townsend subsequently ordered it by that name every day during his stay.
What is cheesecake a la mode?
The Cheesecake Factory Hong Kong – The magic word “a la mode” means your cakes will come with ice cream.
What does Alamogordo mean in English?
Alamogordo means “fat cottonwood.” Gordo = fat; alamo = poplar or cottonwood. Developed as a rail junction with a nearby mountain lumber railroad in 1898.
What is meant by sectionalism?
sectionalism, an exaggerated devotion to the interests of a region over those of a country as a whole.
What was San Jacinto?
The victory at San Jacinto gave Texas its independence from Mexico and opened the door for the continued westward expansion of the United States. The United States annexed Texas in 1845, which led directly to the Mexican-American War.
Is it ALA or a la?
Borrowed from French, à la means “according to” or “in the manner of,” e.g., everyday, observational humor à la Jerry Seinfeld (as Jerry Seinfeld would make jokes). In cooking, à la refers to a way of preparing a dish, e.g., chicken à la provençale (as traditionally cooked in Provence).
How do you use la mode?
adv. with ice cream on top or on the side. 1. Once, just after Inez served apple pie a la mode, Alfred snorted suddenly, loudly.
Where did the term a la mode come from?
Etymology. Unadapted borrowing from French à la mode (“in fashion”). The US sense was coined by polyglot restaurant owner John Gieriet in Minnesota in the 1800s though later attributed to Berry Hall and Charles Watson Townsend.
Who invented pie Alamode?
Pie à la mode wasn’t John Gieriet’s only invention. He received a United States patent for a railroad car ventilating apparatus on June 20, 1882. He also received a patent on October 30, 1899 for a type of fire escape. By 1910, John Gieriet had moved to New York City where he died on May 22, 1912 at the age of 83.
What does a la mode mean on a menu?
A French term meaning ”in the manner of”, referring to the way in which a dish is prepared. It is often used in the United States to describe a dessert topped with ice cream such as pie a la mode.
Why is apple pie with ice cream called a la mode?
It originated in New York in the late 1890s when according to the legend, a gentleman named Professor Charles Watson Townsend was eating a piece of apple pie with vanilla ice cream. A woman at a nearby table inquired what his dessert was called and when he informed her that it had no name, she dubbed it pie a la mode.