Mexico has a secret weapon in its crunch World Cup conflict with England – Caesar salad
EXCLUSIVE: Classic lettuce dish was invented in Mexican party city Tijuana and is a firm favourite with the players – though too much dressing could ‘tighten the shorts’
Our man Jerry tucks in(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Mexico has a secret weapon in its crunch World Cup clash with England – Caesar salad. The classic lettuce dish was invented in Tijuana 102 years ago and is a firm favourite with the players.
It is still made to Italian immigrant creator Caesar Cardini’s original recipe in the party city just south of the US border. Even the Iran team – based in Tijuana throughout their World Cup campaign – could not resist checking it out.
Cardini rustled up the first one on the hoof when his kitchen ran low on ingredients during a busy holiday weekend – tossing all he had left into a bowl tableside.
The concoction was a hit particularly with Americans heading south of the border desperate for a drink during Prohibition. They took versions of the recipe back to the States and it went on to become the most ordered salad in the world.
Gone With The Wind star Clark Gable made the trek south from Hollywood to try it. The International Society of Epicures in Paris described it as the ‘greatest recipe to originate in the Americas in 50 years’. It is still dished up at Caesar’s restaurant in Tijuana at £9.29 a portion.
Known for our Liz Truss-style love of a decent lettuce the Daily Star went along to try it out – and was not disappointed.
A true Caesar features unchopped Romaine lettuce leaves, garlic, oil, lime, Dijon mustard, black pepper, grated Parmesan cheese, a raw egg – and Worcestershire Sauce.
Pan-fried baguette croutons should be rubbed in garlic. The original recipe featured neither anchovies nor chicken.
One Caesar connoisseur visiting the restaurant said: “Most people think it was French or Italian – named after Julius Caesar. But it is 100% Mexican. Everyone eats it here. They are so proud of it. It’s on almost every menu.
“Apparently the footballers love it – though they have to take it easy. Too much dressing could tighten the shorts.”
