Parfaitology!

What the heck is a parfait, anyway? For one thing, it's a light and tasty treat you deserve to enjoy anytime. But for those of you who long to know more, we've put together the following:

Ooh la la!

The parfait (or "perfect") got its start in 19th century France, the ancestral home of good taste. The original parfait was a frozen coffee-flavored dessert constructed in tall, thin ice cream molds. Back then, the parfait didn't come to your table in the tall glass we use today—the glacier (or "guy who makes the ice cream") extracted it from the mold and served it on a decorated plate. Today's French parfait is a frozen custard made with cream and fruit puree.

American ingenuity

Layered, molded ice cream treats (with fruits, syrups, and liqueurs) were quite popular by the mid-19th century in both Europe and America. Today's American parfait comes in a tall glass filled with ice cream, layered with various frozen syrups, and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. The classic parfait ice cream is vanilla; liqueurs or other syrups provide the kick!

More parfaitology:

• In Japan, a parfait is the same as an ice cream sundae.
• A Parfait was a leader among the Cathars. (Extra credit: The Cathars were a religious group in southwestern France. They were big in the 12th century—until they were declared heretics, that is.)

Now go forth and impress your parfait party pals with your newfound knowledge!