Eton mess is a traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries or other berries,meringue, and whipped cream.[1] First mentioned in print in 1893, it is commonly believed to originate fromEton College and is served at theannual cricket match against the pupils ofHarrow School. Eton mess is occasionally served at Harrow School, where it is called Harrow mess.[2]
Eton mess was served in the 1930s in the school's "sock shop" (tuck shop), and was originally made with either strawberries or bananas mixed with ice-cream or cream.[3][4] Meringue was a later addition.[5][6] An Eton mess can be made with many other types of summer fruit,[7] but strawberries are regarded as more traditional.[citation needed]
The wordmess may refer to the appearance of the dish,[5] or may be used in the sense of "a quantity of food", particularly "a prepared dish of soft food" or "a mixture of ingredients cooked or eaten together".[8]
^"mess".Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved25 November 2007. TheOxford English Dictionary definesmess as "[a] serving of food; a course; a meal; a prepared dishof a specified kind of food." or "[a] portion or serving of liquid or pulpy food such as milk, broth, porridge, boiled vegetables,etc.":Simpson, John, ed. (March 2002)."mess,n.".OED Online. Oxford:Oxford University Press. Retrieved10 July 2007..
