Julius Caesar’s March surprise left him dead and legendary. One wonders if Caesar Cardini, creator of the “Caesar’s salad”, was surprised when his creation became legendary as well. Like Steak Tartare, Caesar salad used to be prepared tableside with fresh ingredients while a patron overlooked its genesis. But in most of its current incarnations, the salad is hastily prepared in the kitchen with pre-made dressings and little attention to detail. Limp lettuce leaves arrive at your table smothered in a runny, thin dressing with little flavor. Fortunately for D.C., a few restaurants like La Bergerie in Old Town Alexandria still kick out a Caesar Salad the way it was originally intended. If your only experience with this classic hails from bottled dressings and super market croutons we invite you to dive into this recipe. Making this dressing from scratch is simple and rewarding — but be forewarned, it may make tolerating store bought varieties difficult in the future.

DCist’s Caesar Salad