What does à la mode mean in food?

Close-up of a rhubarb and strawberry cake slice topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

À la mode

Translated from the French,  à la mode means “in the style of” or ” the fashion of.” It typically is used to describe a pie or dessert topped with a scoop of ice cream, as in “apple pie à la mode. ”

Steak served with a particular sauce or vegetables served with a particular dressing can be “à la mode” since the food is served with a popular, trendy, or classical—aka, “fashionable” accompaniment.

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