Hello, I'm Michael Sundburg, and today we're diving into the fascinating history of the Caesar Salad. Contrary to popular belief, this iconic dish wasn't named after a Roman emperor but after its true creator, Caesar Cardini. Cardini, an Italian immigrant and restaurateur, first mixed up this salad in his bustling Tijuana restaurant in 1924, a place frequented by celebrities and Americans escaping prohibition.
The story goes that during a particularly busy Fourth of July weekend, Cardini's kitchen was running low on ingredients. Ingeniously, he tossed together what was left—romaine lettuce, olive oil, raw egg, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and Worcestershire sauce—and the Caesar Salad was born.
Now, there's a bit of controversy about who actually deserves the credit. Caesar's brother, Alex, a WWI Italian aviator, claimed he invented the salad, originally calling it "Aviator Salad," while others suggest it was actually named in honor of Caesar by Alex. Then there's another twist—some attribute the salad's invention to an employee named Livio Santini, who insisted it was based on his Italian mother's recipe.
Adding to the salad's storied history, Julia Child recounted her experience in her cookbook, From Julia Child's Kitchen (1975). She described visiting Cardini's restaurant in the 1920s, where the salad was prepared right at the table. Child vividly remembered the dramatic addition of two coddled eggs, transforming the crisp romaine into a creamy delight, complemented by garlic-flavored croutons and grated Parmesan cheese. This tableside spectacle helped catapult the Caesar Salad to international fame, even earning the title of the “greatest recipe to originate from the Americas in fifty years” by the master chefs of the International Society of Epicures in Paris during the 1930s.
The Caesar Salad's journey from a makeshift meal in a Mexican restaurant to a global culinary sensation is a testament to innovation and creativity in the kitchen. Its rich history is not just about the food but also the colorful characters and serendipitous events that shaped its legacy. Join me next time as we continue to explore the stories behind our favorite dishes.
Caesar-Salad Photographed by Michael Sundburg