h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why is a Ceasar Salad called Ceasar?

I've heard it was named for a guy named Ceasar...

Before considering the derivation of the nomenclature of the salad under consideration, it might behoove us to, at the least, spell the gentleman's name correctly.

It's properly written as "Caesar Salad." The term originated with the ancient Romans, who spoke a dead language. Actually, to be a real nit-picker (and if I wasn't, would I be wasting my time writing this), "Caesar" isn't REALLY spelled "Caesar:" in reality, the "a" and the "E" should be run together, linked up typographically. I haven't figured out how to do that yet on my computer, so excuse me!!!

In other societies, the salad's name is slightly modified: the "Czar Salad" is popular in Russia (or would be if anyone could afford one), and Germans often consume a "Kaiser Salad" before tucking into their saurkraut and wienerschnitzel.

Jimi X, you were in fact on the right trail in your concise observation. The original "Caesar Salad" was developed by American vaudeville and television comic "Sid Caesar." Sid was a typical borscht-belt comedian, often disparagingly called a "ham." That's why there is usually a bit of meat in the salad that bears his name.

Among Sid Caesar's co-stars on his 1950's TV programme were Mel Brooks and Imogene Coca. Brooks is now a popular American songwriter, best known for "Springtime for Hitler." Imogene, who recently passed away, was the inventor of Pepsi-Cola.

I hope I've been helpful. By the way, Sid Caesar"s comedy show was named after its sponsor: "The Colgate Comedy Hour." And as we've recently learned, use of that particular dentifrice is probably the only thing Tony Blair and George W. Bush have in common... but, isn't that enough?

Actually, the original version was created in 1924 by Caesar Cardini, an Italian chef in Tijuana, Mexico.

I just read this recently in Bill Bryson's excellent book 'Made in America'. I just couldn't remember the story at first...

Both the Roman connection and the Sid Caesar connection are incorrect. Bloody good salad though!

- X

thanks - I am enlightened!

My dictionary, not the Galactica however, says it was "named for Caesar Cardini, the Mexican restauranteur who invented it in 1924. " But since he and Sid Caesar were probably named after those other guys, everyone's account is accurate, or not, and it is a darned good salad.

I just want to congratulate everyone in this conversation for properly nailing down the origin of the Caesar salad -- I have found the whole issue quite enlightening. I hope all our other researchers will continue with this excellent research and reply ethic. I, too, believe the Caesar salad to be an exquisite representation of the common earthling's tastes and remarkable ingenuity in the design and development of new foodstuffs.
Furthermore, there is an incredible informational resonance between this conversation and one of my own short stories, entitled 'Of Pens and Paper Clips, And Italian Salad Dressing', which will shortly be up on my web site. It is rather a moot point right now, however, as the point in time in which the short story has been posted to my web site has not yet arriven forewhen.

And, who's idea was it to hide thi conversation in these far out backwaters of H2G2?

well... is it not true that the Caesar salad or Sneezer Salid as it was originally called was named after its original after effects that came into play when the original ingredients where used. Of course as time went by with the passage of history, the recipe sorta got a bit on the distorted side and when someone decided that it tasted good then the obligatory renaming came about?

Just an idea? I could be wrong

Someone new on the Welcome Page just asked it. 'Tis the way of h2g2, don't you know.

Whoami?

I really don't care how or why the salad was named or even if it's spelled properly. I just am in total agreement with one of the other writers it's "a bloody good salad".

I know it´s been a long time since You have written about the Caesar´s Salad, but nevertheless just let me ask You one question: Where did You get this nonesense about a "Kaiser´s Salat" in Germany from? I´ve been living in Germany for almost 22 years which is supposed to be my whole life (OK, OK, I did go on holidays, but I´m a real German), but I haven´t heard of anything like Kaiser-Salat yet. Besides, the green stuff You use to prepare the salad doesn´t exist in Germany- I tried really hard to find it here but didn´t succeed...

It has been some time since i last had a salid, of any kind, type, or name, which is in itself such a pity