The story
Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant who lived in San Diego, ran a restaurant in Tijuana that drew Americans escaping Prohibition. According to his daughter Rosa, a Fourth of July rush in 1924 left the kitchen short, so Cardini built a salad from what he had: romaine, garlic-scented oil, coddled egg, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, Parmesan and croutons, tossed at the table for show. Hollywood visitors spread the word, and Cardini later bottled his dressing in Los Angeles. His brother Alex and a cook named Livio Santini have also been credited, but every version points to Tijuana.
Rival claims
Caesar's brother Alex Cardini and a former cook, Livio Santini, have each been credited in some accounts, but every version places the invention at Caesar's restaurant in Tijuana.
Also known as Caesar's salad, ensalada César.
On the Meridish menu
Caesar salad was the starter course on menu No. 2 on October 2, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
An Italian immigrant restaurateur is said to have improvised it here over a busy Fourth of July weekend in 1924.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
- atlasobscura.com/articles/who-invented-caesar-salad
- hppr.org/2024-07-03/hail-caesar-salad-born-100-years-ago-in-tijuana
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_salad
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
