Some food combos are so obviously delicious we don't stop to wonder why (I see you with your ranch-soaked pizza), but...cold chocolate with hot potatoes!?
The mash-up comes as no surprise to Peter Coucquyt, chef and co-author of The Art & Science of Foodpairing. "A dish without any contrasting textures or flavors gets boring after a few bites," says Coucquyt, who broke down the three elements that make the beloved pairing so perfect: the crunch of the fry with the cream of the soft serve, the drastically different temperatures, the balance of salty vs. sweet. As if you need more proof: Both foods have caramellic molecules—which give off the smell of caramelized sugar—making ice cream the ultimate condiment.
Happy dunking!
