The story of the ice-cream cone is a classic example of how a chance discovery can have a lasting impact on our society.

 

Until 1904, ice cream was only served on plates. Then, in 1904, at the World's Fair in St Louis, Missouri, the unstoppable linking of two non-referential foodstuffs came about.

 

As it was particularly hot and oppressive during the exhibition, one stall selling ice cream did so well that the plates soon ran out. The neighbouring stall selling zalabia, a Persian thin wafer, on the other hand, had little success. So the owner of this stall had the inspiration to roll the thin waffle into croissants and put ice cream on top.

 

The ice-cream cone has been a smashing success ever since, as you can hold the ice-cream in your hand and eat it while you go for a walk.