Celebrating The Unique Taste Of Caesar Salad On Its 100th Anniversary

It’s the 4th of July, but the United States isn’t the only one celebrating a major milestone. Exactly one century ago, the Caesar salad marked its official debut in Mexico. Some love it, some hate it, but it’s hard to ignore the cultural impact of this divisive dish.

So let’s dig into what has made it such a culinary force for the past 100 years.

Mexican or Italian?

Despite being prepared for the first time in Tijuana, foodies everywhere insist that the Caesar salad isn’t a Mexican dish. That argument holds up when you realize that its inventor was an Italian immigrant to Mexico.

That makes it an Italian salad in every sense of the term, explained culinary historian Jeffrey Pilcher.

Necessity is the mother of invention, or so the saying goes, and that was apparently the case when this salad was first created. It was particularly busy on July 4, 1924, at the downtown Tijuana restaurant Avenida Revolucion, and only a few ingredients were left for guests who arrived later in the day.

Using what was left, including Parmesan cheese, egg, and olive oil, the foundation of the Caesar salad was established. And that very first version remains on the restaurant’s menu a century later.

What’s in a name?

You might assume that the salad was named after Julius Caesar, but that’s not the case. Its inventor was Caesar Cardini, and his name lives on in his creation to this day.

And even though the original version of this salad is still being enjoyed, there are countless updates and variations that have gained their own faithful followings. It’s this ability to evolve that has made it such a timeless dish, says chef Nathanial Zimet, who works at a New Orleans restaurant known for its spin on the salad.

Chris Agee July 4th, 2024

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