Caesar Cardini

Caesar Cardini (Cesare Cardini) 1896-1956

Caesar Cardini (February 24, 1896 – November 3, 1956) was an Italian-American restaurateur and chef, best known for creating the Caesar salad. He was born in Baveno, a commune on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the Piedmont region of Italy. Cardini emigrated to the United States after World War I and eventually settled in San Diego, California.

Early Life

Caesar Cardini was born to a family of Italian hoteliers. He had a passion for the culinary arts from a young age, which led him to pursue a career in the restaurant industry. After World War I, he moved to the United States, where he initially worked in various restaurants before opening his own establishments.

Career

In the 1920s, Cardini and his brother Alex opened a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico, to attract American tourists during the Prohibition era. It was in this restaurant, Caesar's, that Cardini is said to have invented the Caesar salad on July 4, 1924. The salad quickly gained popularity and became a staple in many restaurants around the world.

Caesar Salad

The Caesar salad is a green salad of romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with lemon juice (or lime juice), olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper. According to legend, Cardini created the salad when a rush of customers depleted the kitchen's supplies, and he had to make do with what was available.

Legacy

Caesar Cardini's legacy lives on through the Caesar salad, which remains a popular dish in restaurants globally. His daughter, Rosa Cardini, continued to promote the salad and the Cardini brand, ensuring that her father's creation remained a culinary icon.

Death

Caesar Cardini passed away on November 3, 1956, in Los Angeles, California. He was buried in the Inglewood Park Cemetery.

Related Pages

• Caesar salad
• Tijuana
• Prohibition in the United States
• Italian-American cuisine