An Ode To Caesar Salad

by Liz Heather in

The caesar salad turns 100 today! I would have never guessed that it was invented in Tijuana, Mexico. How have I not visited its birthplace? Seems very un-me.

In celebration of today, I made the Canyon Creek caesar dressing that I got from one of their waiters before the chain closed in 2022. (I may or may not carry this piece of paper in my wallet alongside photos of my loved ones.)

Canyon Creek caesar dressing recipe

It doesn’t taste exactly the same, but I’ve been making slight adjustments each time I make it. For example, it needs way more than one garlic clove (I’d suggest four or five depending on how large they are). And you have to added shaved parmesan to the final salad. And obviously, you need to make your own croutons (it’s 2024, bagged croutons should embarrass you). Here’s the kale version I made earlier today (forgive the lack of cheese).

Kale was all I had, don’t judge

I wish I remembered the very first time I tried this salad - I’m sure that I was at dinner with my parents. Whenever they’d take me anywhere fancy as a child, I would always get a caesar salad or a shrimp cocktail since those were the two least intimidating items to my kid eyes.

The caesar at Canyon Creek remains my favourite version, but I’ve absolutely had other great ones. The Nordstrom one is fantastic, love the Rubirosa one for the parmesan croutons. I am dying to try the ones at Hillstone and The Fly. It’s surprising that I don’t make it more at home, but that’s probably because I love eating new ones and searching for a new favourite. That being said, I do make this How Sweet Eats dressing on a regular basis for Nathan.

Why don’t all recipes have birthdays? When the hell is steak Diane day? In any case, happy 100th birthday, my love. You continue to make our lives more delicious with each year.

Summer List 2024

by Liz Heather in

Welcome to the absolute worst time of year! Rather than ranting about exactly why this is the worst season (ie. sweating into the sheets as you sleep, the buzzing of mosquitoes near your ears, the awful body odor of strangers too close to you on the subway), there may be just a few things that can be enjoyed this time of year. Unexpected summer rainstorms, late sunsets, ice cold pools, sandal tan lines, frozen pina coladas, absolutely all of the produce in season and children that you love not having to go to school. And best of all - eating as much heirloom tomato toast as humanly possible.

So let’s try to get through these next three months as best we can until the sweet scent of September arrives. Here’s the plan.

  1. Go to a carnival.

  2. Eat the soft serve at either Seed + Mill in Chelsea Market or at L’Industrie.

  3. Get out of town somewhere fun to celebrate our 15 year anniversary.

  4. Go swimming at least five times.

  5. Make this truffled garlic bread with ricotta.

As always, I beg you to make a list of your own. If you’re looking for some ideas, here are some past summer lists I’ve made: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2015.