What do you think of this fact?
Caesar salad sounds ancient, all togas and Colosseum. But Julius Caesar never ate it. It was invented in 1924 in Tijuana, Mexico, and it’s named after a restaurant owner, not the Roman general.
An Italian in Mexico
Caesar Cardini, born Cesare, was an Italian immigrant who ran a restaurant in Tijuana, just across the border from the US. Back then, that was a great location. Prohibition was in force in the US, and alcohol was banned. So plenty of Americans crossed the border to party and drink cocktails legally.
According to KPBS, the salad was born on July 4, 1924, US Independence Day. The restaurant was packed with American guests, and the kitchen was running out of food. All that was left were a few basics: olive oil, Parmesan, egg, Worcestershire sauce and lettuce. Whether Cardini or his brother then tossed them together in a wooden bowl isn’t entirely clear. Either way, the salad was an instant hit.
A show at the table
According to Britannica, the salad was prepared right at the guests’ table for dramatic effect. The classic version featured romaine lettuce, croutons, garlic-infused olive oil, coddled egg, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Parmesan, salt and pepper.
Fun detail: anchovies, which many people now consider essential to Caesar dressing, weren’t always part of the recipe, according to KPBS. Britannica doesn’t list them in the original at all.
According to KPBS, the original restaurant in Tijuana is still open and still serves the classic Caesar salad.
100 years of improvising
In July 2024, the salad turned 100. According to KPBS, today you’ll find it with bacon, tandoori prawns, kale chips or as a vegan version. Which fits pretty well for a dish that started out as leftovers.
The most famous Caesar in the kitchen wasn’t an emperor. He was a restaurateur with an empty fridge.