With a name like “Caesar,” it’s reasonable to guess that the Caesar salad might have some connection to Julius Caesar or perhaps Ancient Rome. However, the salad doesn’t seem to have a historical link to any Roman generals, though it does have an Italian pedigree, along with a rather surprising birthplace: Tijuana, Mexico.
Unlike many foods, the Caesar salad also has a birthday: July 4, 1924, when it was created at Caesar’s Place, a restaurant on Avenida Revolución in downtown Tijuana. The Baja California town was perpetually busy during Prohibition, as American tourists could cross the border to enjoy legal liquor, and it was heaving on Independence Day.
Caesar’s Place was run by Italian immigrants Caesar and Alex Cardini, restaurateurs with establishments on both sides of the border. Apparently, the Caesar salad was born out of necessity on Independence Day in 1924, after the kitchen had run out of many staples. However, the ingredients for what would become a classic Caesar remained: whole Romaine lettuce leaves, egg yolk, lime juice, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and toasted baguette slices. (Notably, Caesar Cardini never liked the idea of adding anchovies, feeling that there was enough fishiness in the Worcestershire sauce.)
As the legend goes, Caesar Cardini (or possibly his brother, Alex), mixed the ingredients tableside in a wooden bowl, providing entertainment along with sustenance. The resulting salad was a hit with the diners and soon became popular with the Hollywood crowd. Cardini's recipe, with countless variations, has been gracing restaurant menus ever since.
Hail Caesar:
- The success of Caesar’s Place and the popularity of Tijuana led the Cardini brothers to move to a larger location in 1931, expanding into the hotel business. However, American tourism to Tijuana slowed down in the mid-1930s after the repeal of Prohibition, which also coincided with the Mexican government enacting a gambling ban.
- In 1936, Caesar Cardini moved back to San Diego and later to Los Angeles, trademarking his iconic Caesar salad dressing in 1948. The brand is still produced as a subsidiary of the T. Marzetti salad dressing company.
- Though the business has gone through numerous ownership changes, you can still enjoy a Caesar salad prepared tableside at Caesar’s in Tijuana. In 2010, the restaurant was renovated in a 1920s-esque Art Deco style under the direction of acclaimed Mexican chef Javier Plascencia.
