From left, Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, Consul Basic of Mexico in Los Angeles, Javier Plascencia and Proprietor of Casa Vega Christy Vega attend the Casa Vega 68th Anniversary Social gathering at Casa Vega on June 18, 2024 in Sherman Oaks, California. Plascencia is the chef/proprietor of Restaurante Caesar’s in Tijuana Mexico, the place the Caesar Salad was invented 100 years in the past. To mark the anniversary Casa Vega will probably be including the unique salad recipe to its menu. (Photograph by Jesse Grant/Getty Photos for Casa Vega)
Casa Vega is reaching again in time and embracing household ties to have fun what is maybe essentially the most well-known salad ever.
This yr, the straightforward however ubiquitous Caesar Salad, which was invented in Tijuana, Mexico, turns 100 years outdated and the lengthy established San Fernando Valley restaurant is including the unique salad to its menu with the assistance of a Michelin-starred chef who owns the eatery the place it began.
“It’s only a excellent mix of substances, an ideal mixture of flavors. For me it’s only a excellent recipe. Everybody loves this salad and it’s traveled worldwide,” mentioned Javier Plascencia, chef and proprietor of Restaurante Caesar’s in Tijuana, Mexico, the place the salad was invented in 1924. To additional commemorate the anniversary, Casa Vega can also be providing a free Caesar Salad on July 4 with the acquisition of an entree.
Plascencia visited Casa Vega in late June to have fun the salad’s anniversary and the restaurant’s 68-year anniversary and ready the salad tableside.
“They’re now going to recreate the genuine recipe, make it tableside and add it to their menu,” he mentioned.
In response to Plascencia, the salad was invented on the Tijuana restaurant by the proprietor Caesar Cardini, who opened his place on Avenida Revolucion in 1923.
Because the story goes, after a really busy day on July 4 a late evening crowd got here into the restaurant and requested if they may nonetheless eat one thing. Cardini then appeared round his kitchen and after being slammed all day he realized that he solely had just a few substances left, together with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lettuce, garlic, lemons and a few eggs. So he blended these substances with lettuce to create the well-known salad. It wasn’t till just a few years later that he added anchovies.
“They got here up with this creation they usually cherished it and folks began asking for the salad after which Cardini began making it tableside,” Plascencia mentioned.
His Tijuana restaurant nonetheless prepares the salad tableside because it was completed 100 years in the past and folks nonetheless like it and order about 3,500 salads per week. Plascencia can also be completely happy that Casa Vega will probably be serving his unique salad as a result of they share a particular connection.
“That restaurant is a part of the household. Ray Vega who began Casa Vega, is my mother’s cousin. It’s a landmark in L.A. and for us it’s an honor they are going to be serving this traditional recipe,” he mentioned.
Casa Vega is at 13301 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks; 818-788-4868 or casavega.com