Caesar Salad Was Not Named After Julius Caesar
A brief history of Caesar Salad
We have a lot to credit Julius Caesar for, but a tasty salad is not among those. The historic general-statesman did not invent, or likely even eat “Caesar Salad” as we know it today. Instead, we have to credit a little-known Italian chef named Caesar Cardini.
Caesar Salad’s Birthplace
Caesar Cardini immigrated from Italy to the United States in 1919 and was 20 years old at the time. He worked at as a restaurateur and chef with a partner in Sacramento but eventually built a few establishments in San Diego.
When the United States passed the Prohibition on alcohol, Cardini’s entrepreneurial instincts called him to open up a hotel in Tijuana Mexico. Tijuana became a bustling tourist destination for Americans thirsty for liquor at the time. This trend made Cardini’s Hotel, and the restaurant it had, pretty popular.
The First Caesar Salad
On July 4, 1924, the Independence Day rush depleted Hotel Caesar’s kitchen stock.
Despite this, there were still several hungry customers looking for a meal. Cardini decided to make use of what ingredients he had left and offered the guests a signature chef’s salad. Thinking on his feet, Cardini mixed…
