Caesar Salad
Caesar Salad: The Caesar Salad was invented by Italian restaurateur Caesar Cardini in 1924 at his restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. However, its popularity among the Hollywood elite cemented its reputation in Southern California shortly thereafter. Cardini improvised a salad using the ingredients he had on hand: whole lettuce leaves, eggs, olive oil, croutons, lime, Parmesan cheese, and Worcestershire sauce to manage a customer rush. Caesar Cardini's restaurant in Tijuana was extremely popular during the Prohibition era in the United States (1920–1933).
The original recipe does use lime juice instead of the lemon juice commonly found in modern variations.
Caesar Cardini's brother, Alex Cardini, is credited with adding to the salad is anchovies.
While the Caesar Salad was invented in Tijuana, Mexico, its popularity among the Hollywood crowd in the 1920s and 30s is what propelled it to international fame.
The most famous restaurant in Hollywood associated with serving a classic, old-school Caesar Salad, often prepared tableside with theatrical flair, is the historic Musso & Frank Grill. This iconic Tinseltown landmark has been a favorite of celebrities and industry figures for over a century. Its commitment to classic dishes and tableside preparation for specific items, like the Caesar, keeps the old Hollywood tradition alive.
Another notable Hollywood-area restaurant frequently mentioned for an excellent tableside Caesar salad is Dear John's in Culver City (often grouped with the LA/Hollywood classic scene).
Simple Caesar Salad Recipe
4 tablespoons Trader Joe’s Vegan Caesar Dressing (in produce section)
3 hearts of romaine
Shaved Parmesan cheese
Cracked Black Pepper
French bread slices oiled and toasted
1 can anchovy fillets
Cut, rinse, and spin dry the romaine lettuce. Place in a large salad bowl and toss with the Caesar dressing. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese, cracked black pepper, toasted French bread slices, and rolled anchovy fillets. Enjoy! We served with lime on the side as a nod to Caesar Cardini.
