# Your Opinion/Experience: What's in a "Caesar salad"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257 "2005-02-21T23:37:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/21 "2005-02-22T02:42:28Z")
> [@Kolak of Twilo](#): > > You say that with such absolute finality. Hmmm. I guess every restaurant I worked in for the last 18 years had no idea what they were doing. Always had a big ol’ fat anchovy fillet on top of the salad unless requested otherwise. Not wrong, it’s just not a true ceasar salad. A true ceasar has just 7 ingredients - romaine, garlic, parmesan, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, croutons, and lemon juice (and salt and pepper, of course, but they don’t really count as ingredients). Adding the anchovies is just a common variation - like chicken ceasar salad. Nothing wrong with it. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/22 "2005-02-22T03:12:41Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > Not wrong, it’s just not a true ceasar salad. A true ceasar has just 7 ingredients - romaine, garlic, parmesan, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, croutons, and lemon juice (and salt and pepper, of course, but they don’t really count as ingredients). > > Adding the anchovies is just a common variation - like chicken ceasar salad. Nothing wrong with it. Cite, please? I realize the anchovy was a later addition to the salad but every recipe I’ve looked up in the last 30 minutes makes reference to anchovy being common in the salad today. Not like chicken. #1[/COLOR]]([Classic Caesar Salad - The Reluctant Gourmet](http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/caesar.htm#2)]([http://www.culinaryarts.com/Recipes/recipefiles/Caesar.htm#3](http://www.culinaryarts.com/Recipes/recipefiles/Caesar.htm#3)]([http://fp.enter.net/~rburk/salads/caesarsalad/almostca.txt#4](http://fp.enter.net/~rburk/salads/caesarsalad/almostca.txt#4)]([http://fp.enter.net/~rburk/salads/caesarsalad/brucesfa.txt#5](http://fp.enter.net/~rburk/salads/caesarsalad/brucesfa.txt#5)]([http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/17/Caesar\_Salad2145.shtml](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/17/Caesar_Salad2145.shtml)[COLOR=Navy). Just curious. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/23 "2005-02-22T03:15:08Z")
Your first four links are broken. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/24 "2005-02-22T03:17:37Z")
I’ve never in my life seen an anchovy served in a Casesar salad. And I order a LOT of Caesar salads; it’s one of my bellweather orders to test a restaurant. However, a true Caesar dressing has anchovy paste in it. And bacon bits. Maybe it’s a Canadian thing, but a proper Caesar salad has bacon bits. And the plate should be chilled. Mmmmm. Caesar salad… (drooling) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/25 "2005-02-22T03:21:02Z")
Anchovies? I’ve never heard of anchovies on a Caesar (which I adore!)! Bacon bits, yes. But not anchovies! ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/26 "2005-02-22T03:22:30Z")
I have no comment on the Ceasar salad since I can’t stand Ceasar dressing, but you wondered why they put the ranch on there. The reason is because everyone seems to think that everyone wants ranch all the time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ordered salad and asked for italian or french and gotten ranch. I usually ask for either creamy garlic or creamy italian, which is never at a place and the response is, “well we have ranch” as if that was a worthwhile substitute. (See many earlier rants against ranch dressing) ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/27 "2005-02-22T03:29:58Z")
[One](http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/caesar.htm), [two,](http://www.culinaryarts.com/Recipes/recipefiles/Caesar.htm) [three,](http://fp.enter.net/~rburk/salads/caesarsalad/almostca.txt) [four,](http://fp.enter.net/~rburk/salads/caesarsalad/brucesfa.txt) [five.](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/17/Caesar_Salad2145.shtml) Sorry about that. Try now. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/28 "2005-02-22T03:42:36Z")
> [@Kolak of Twilo](#): > > [One](http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/caesar.htm), [two,](http://www.culinaryarts.com/Recipes/recipefiles/Caesar.htm) [three,](http://fp.enter.net/~rburk/salads/caesarsalad/almostca.txt) [four,](http://fp.enter.net/~rburk/salads/caesarsalad/brucesfa.txt) [five.](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/17/Caesar_Salad2145.shtml) Sorry about that. Try now. Yeah, I too find it surprising how many people have never heard of anchovy on Caesar Salad. Most of the recipes for plain ol’ Caesar Salad I found on [Epicurious.com](http://Epicurious.com) also contain anchovy filets. From recipes as far back as 1956 to as recent as 1994, anchovies are _de rigueur_. Now, bacon bits? _That’s_ a travesty on a Caesar. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/29 "2005-02-22T04:15:32Z")
I’m in the camp that thought anchovies were part of the classic Caesar. That’s the way it usually comes in New York restaurants, but hey, I’m willing to accept that it’s a regional thing. What confuses me, though, is what’s in Caesar dressiing. I’m a raw egg gal myself – but I understand not everyone likes to eat/can eat raw eggs. I’ve always avoided Caesars that _aren’t_ dressed with raw egg. Anyway, this is how I make a Caesar salad: romaine lettuce croutons toasted with garlic and olive oil raw egg (although I would accept coddled if I had to) grated Parm Worcestershire sauce anchovies or anchovy paste salt and pepper So when everything gets tossed, it’s the egg, Worcestershire, cheese, anchovies, and garllic and oil flavor from the croutons that make the dressing. What comes in the Caesar dressing that’s in a bottle? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/30 "2005-02-22T04:19:36Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > What comes in the Caesar dressing that’s in a bottle? Xanthan gum, propylene glycol alginate, potassium sorbate and (shudders) sodium benzoate. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/31 "2005-02-22T04:56:57Z")
[quote] As printed on the back of the Caesar’s Bar business card… [ul]1 dash of Worcestershire sauce [li]1 pinch of salt and pepper[/li][li]1/3 cup of grapeseed oil (tasteless) or Extra Virgin Olive oil[/li][li]1-2 tablespoons of Vinegar[/li][li]Juice of 1 1/2 Lemons[/li][li]1 raw Egg[/li][li]3 medium heads of Romaine lettuce (chilled, dry, crisp)[/li][li]1 cup of Croutons[/li][li]grated Parmesan cheese[/ul][/li][/quote] No anchovies. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/32 "2005-02-22T06:07:24Z")
Bacon bits?? That’s just WACK. I find myself reassured by all of these responses, yet cheated by my so-far complete deprivation of coddled egg and anchovies. ☹ As for sending the offending “salad” back . . . well, this just really isn’t the kind of place where anybody bothers to send food back unless there’s a bug in it or something. And I didn’t feel like making a big stink. This is why we do our pleasure dining in other municipalities. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/33 "2005-02-22T06:17:18Z")
I suspect that if I knew, I would never eat one again. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/34 "2005-02-22T08:08:12Z")
“Caesar’s Bar” business card? From where? As I already said, Caesar Cardini didn’t but the nasty fish parts in his salad. BUT, since then it has become a commonly accepted part of the salad. PROVE ME WRONG. I already gave multiple cites to support my point. Where are yours? And your local Hardee’s salad bar doesn’t count. oooh, that was kinda nasty. OK. Tell me what CITE you can offer, that will state that anchovy is not and never is part of this salad. Hmmm? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/35 "2005-02-22T13:44:38Z")
> [@Kolak of Twilo](#): > > “Caesar’s Bar” business card? From where? > > As I already said, Caesar Cardini didn’t but the nasty fish parts in his salad. BUT, since then it has become a commonly accepted part of the salad. PROVE ME WRONG. I already gave multiple cites to support my point. Where are yours? And your local Hardee’s salad bar doesn’t count. oooh, that was kinda nasty. OK. Tell me what CITE you can offer, that will state that anchovy is not and never is part of this salad. Hmmm? Well, it’s certainly not NEVER part of the salad, as it is now an accepted variation for those who want even more _shudder_ fish taste, but the snopes link given a while back does support the “no fish in the original recipe” theory. So, since that was the first caesar, it was the original, so an original caesar salad, or one trying to be as close to it as possible, does not have anchovies. Thank God, too, ro I would never eat them (if I ever get it at a restaurant, I ask if they use anchovies.) And jsut because it is commonly accepted doesn’t mean it’s “right.” “Nucular” seems to be the common way of saying Nuclear, does that mean we should change Websters? ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/36 "2005-02-22T13:54:26Z")
My recipe (which I’m making sometime this week, incidentally) has anchovies in the dressing somehow - not really sure how (because I haven’t made it yet). Anyway, Rachel Ray seems to think that when you cook anchovies, they melt away into the pan. I haven’t made any of her anchovy-related recipes yet (tho’ I do have the anchovies in the pantry), so I don’t really know if they do that or not. But perhaps that’s where they are, for those of you that swear there’s never any anchovies in the salad. Some of the places 'round here will use shavings of parmesan instead of freshly grated. That’s a very nice variation. As another, I’ve also had salmon added to a caesar salad, which is also nice. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/37 "2005-02-22T13:59:17Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Rachel Ray seems to think that when you cook anchovies, they melt away into the pan. . . . I don’t really know if they do that or not. Yeah, they do. I have a couple of tomato-saucy recipes with anchovies in them, and they just pretty much dissolve and add their flavor to the dish. Which I find yummy, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/38 "2005-02-22T14:08:07Z")
> [@Kolak of Twilo](#): > > Just curious. 😉 [http://www.recipesource.com/fgv/salads/ceasar2.html](http://www.recipesource.com/fgv/salads/ceasar2.html) > **[Ceasar Salad](https://recipeland.com/recipe/v/ceasar-salad-24915)** [http://recipes.chef2chef.net/recipe-archive/00/000627.shtml](http://recipes.chef2chef.net/recipe-archive/00/000627.shtml) All off the first half page of Google. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/39 "2005-02-22T14:10:57Z")
The original caeser salad, as made by Caeser Cardini contained exactly the following ingredients: 1 salad bowl, rubbed with garlic. cos or romaine lettuce(dried!) added to the bowl a small dash of olive oil, tossed so it just coats the leaves. 1 coddled egg (simmer egg for 2 - 3 minutes) added, and then tossed so the egg mixes with the oil more oil added until you form a creamy emulsion. A few sprinkles of worstershire sauce, some salt and pepper. Finally some garlic croutons are added and tossed lightly. The salad is then plated and parmesan is shaved on top (never grated). The most important thing, however, is that the dish is **arranged tableside**. To me, the whole point of a good ceaser is the magic of the presentation when so many different ingredients are transformed with such simple actions. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257/40 "2005-02-22T14:19:06Z")
For those of you who make Caesar salads at home (whether you put anchovies in it or save it to top your chocolate cake! ;)), and prefer not to have a brick of Parmesan around to shred/shave, may I note that Kraft has two products out in the same sort of dispensers as their grated Italian cheeses: a shredded Parmesan, and a shredded three-cheese including Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago. My experience is that it keeps quite well in the refrigerator. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-experience-whats-in-a-caesar-salad/291257.md?page=3)