Caesar Salad - A Tale Of The American Dream

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Video: Caesar Salad - A Tale Of The American Dream

Video: Caesar Salad - A Tale Of The American Dream
Video: CAESAR SALAD + BRUTUS SALAD and PUG ASMR 2024, November
Caesar Salad - A Tale Of The American Dream
Caesar Salad - A Tale Of The American Dream
Anonim

No, Caesar salad it has nothing to do with the Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar, nor was she born in Rome. The story of the world's most famous salad begins in Mexico on July 4, almost 100 years ago, and continues as a tale of the American dream come true to this day.

And yes, there is still something Italian in it! This is her "father" Cesare (Caesar) Cardini. Born in Italy, the enterprising chef left for America hoping to succeed. And he really succeeds - thanks to a happy combination of luck, chance, and, of course, talent and ingenuity.

Why is Caesar salad home to Mexico?

Caesar salad
Caesar salad

Because Cardini's dream of opening a restaurant in America coincided with the introduction of the dry regime in the country. Many Americans fled it to neighboring Mexico, where the resort of Agua Caliente, equal in splendor and entertainment to Deauville and Monte Carlo, sprang up near the town of Tijuana.

Cardini followed the thirsty Americans, rented a room in Tijuana, and opened a restaurant he named Caesar, and it soon became a favorite spot of the local elite for its good cuisine. There, on July 4, 1924, the most famous salad in the world was born.

Why is July 4 the birthday of Caesar salad?

Caesar salad with chicken
Caesar salad with chicken

Because it was the national holiday of America in the afternoon of the distant summer of 1924 that caused the appearance of the most popular salad in the world. The holiday brought many customers to Cesare's restaurant, and even after the first crowds of hungry visitors, the products for the day quickly ran out. And when a noisy company of Americans burst through Caesar's gates, the proud Italian saw a single move in front of him. And he was not to send them away, but to make them a dish from the products he had in stock - dried bread, a few eggs, and leftover lettuce leaves.

Thus was born the recipe for the salad, which is present today (changed over the years and decorated by many masters) in the menus of restaurants around the world.

What were the first ingredients?

Caesar salad
Caesar salad

Photo: Elena Stefanova Yordanova

Delicate lettuce leaves - Romaine or Cos, named after the Greek island of Kos, where it is distributed (from it comes a slight bitterness in taste); soft-boiled eggs, boiled for exactly one minute, Worcestershire sauce (so-called Worcester); lemon; salt; pepper; olive oil; the best possible parmigiano and croutons prepared with pre-seasoned garlic olive oil.

Cardini decided to make up for the lack of a varied menu with a surprise and prepared the salad in front of his guests. What makes her famous, according to the famous chef Julia Child, is not only the taste, but several other factors - the atypical way of mixing the salad, always in a large wooden bowl; the use of almost raw eggs; as well as off-season lettuce for local production.

Star fans…

Caesar salad with anchovies
Caesar salad with anchovies

The fame of Caesar salad is growing rapidly on both sides of the border and those wishing to taste it have skyrocketed. Julia Child is one of the many famous figures who have turned out to be customers of Cesare's restaurant.

Among the customers eager to try the unique salad were other celebrities such as Clark Gable and Gene Harlow. Wallis Simpson also visited Tijuana often, and it is even believed that it was there that she met Prince Edward of Wales. It is also believed that she was the man who brought Caesar salad to Europe.

As often happens after a success, it turns out that

Caesar salad has many fathers…

Caesar salad with chicken
Caesar salad with chicken

Cesare's brother, Alessandro, declared himself its inventor over the years, adding to the recipe the cherished pieces of anchovies, which later began to be replaced by the most famous today roasted chicken or beef.

One of the partners in Cardini's restaurant and a master chef later joined the ranks of people claiming paternity.

Whatever the controversy surrounding it, however, Caesar salad continues to enjoy fans around the world.

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