Dish

Caesar Salad

Salads

Caesar salad is a green salad of romaine lettuce and croutons, commonly dressed with lemon or lime juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese and black pepper. It was created on July 4, 1924, by restaurateur Caesar Cardini at his restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico; according to his daughter Rosa, Cardini improvised the dish during a Fourth of July rush when kitchen supplies were running low, assembling it from what remained on hand and preparing it tableside for dramatic effect, a presentation still used at the original restaurant. Some accounts credit Cardini's brother Alex or restaurant staff with the actual invention, but the dish is not connected to the Roman general Julius Caesar despite the shared name, a common misconception. The salad has since become internationally popular and has spawned numerous bottled dressings and regional variations.

Facts

Origin Period, From (Year)the subject's own account

from 1924 1

Origin Regionthe subject's own account

Tijuana, Mexico 1

Origin Period, To (Year)

to 1924 1

the subject's own accountThe dish was invented in a single sitting on July 4, 1924, so the same year serves as both the start and end of its origin; this is not a development span.

FAQs

Did the original Caesar salad contain anchovies?

The original recipe used only Worcestershire sauce and no anchovies; anchovies came with later versions.

According to Caesar Cardini's daughter and several other sources, the original recipe used only Worcestershire sauce, not anchovies, mustard or herbs, which Cardini considered too bold in flavor. Whole anchovies are a later addition: contemporary recipes typically include them as a key ingredient, and the dressing is often emulsified or based on mayonnaise. A 1946 newspaper column already described a Hollywood Caesar containing anchovies, a version that differed from Cardini's.

Connections