BajaNomad - Caesar's Tijuana

Caesar's Tijuana

tunaeater - 10-11-2016 at 10:57 AM

We had a great experience at http://caesarstijuana.com/ . Excellent service and great food! Right on Revolucion Ave. which I haven't been on in 25 years. We sampled their food at a Baja Day at Sea Port village a couple years ago and finally made it down there.

[Edited on 10-11-2016 by tunaeater]

[Edited on 10-11-2016 by tunaeater]

durrelllrobert - 10-11-2016 at 11:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by tunaeater

We had a great experience at http://caesarstijuana.com/ . Excellent service and great food! Right on Revolucion Ave. which I haven't been on in 25 years. We sampled there food at a Baja Day at Sea Port village a couple years ago and finally made it down there.

I started eating there in the 50's and the chef (forgot name) gave me the original recipe for Ceasar salad that I still use today.

David K - 10-11-2016 at 11:23 AM

Thanks, Paul... good to see you posting on Nomad again!

Caesar Cardini: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_Cardini

willardguy - 10-11-2016 at 12:56 PM

my next door neighbor's grandfather Livio Santini invented the caesar salad....if you ever want to hear the story stop by Aldo's new wine bar, Bottega Santini :coolup:

David K - 10-11-2016 at 01:15 PM

Another fun Baja topic... where was the margarita invented?

Most claim at Hussong's Cantina... but like the Caesar Salad, many take credit.

gsbotanico - 10-11-2016 at 01:36 PM

Lots of claims on the origin of the margarita:
http://vinepair.com/wine-blog/the-mystery-behind-who-really-...

The one I've always heard is that “Danny” Herrera, owner of the restaurant Rancho La Gloria invented it. The location was on the old highway between Tijuana and Rosarito. The newer 6-lane highway now bypasses it. But you can turnoff at La Gloria and drive past the old location and continue on to reconnect with the newer road.

bajaguy - 10-11-2016 at 01:45 PM

They give the "original" recipe to anyone who asks

Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert

I started eating there in the 50's and the chef (forgot name) gave me the original recipe for Ceasar salad that I still use today.

DENNIS - 10-11-2016 at 01:50 PM

How can anyone lay legitmate claim to a two ingredient drink? Tequila and lime juice...stirred, not shaken. Like, who 'invented' scotch and water?

mtgoat666 - 10-11-2016 at 02:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS

How can anyone lay legitmate claim to a two ingredient drink? Tequila and lime juice...stirred, not shaken. Like, who 'invented' scotch and water?

Three ingredients. You forgot cointreau (triple sec).

I use Frozen lime concentrate instead of lime juice. Its frozenier.

[Edited on 10-11-2016 by mtgoat666]

David K - 10-11-2016 at 02:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS

How can anyone lay legitmate claim to a two ingredient drink? Tequila and lime juice...stirred, not shaken. Like, who 'invented' scotch and water?

Dennis, there is a third ingredient in a 'real' Margarita...

Triple Sec, Cointreau, or Damiana

But in a pinch, yours works, too!

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 10-11-2016 at 03:19 PM

Hola durrelllrobert,

is it possible for you to post the recipe ?

it's my favorite salad.

i thank you in advance,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

DENNIS - 10-11-2016 at 03:55 PM

OK....got me on the triple sec Cointreau thing, but more importantly, who invented enchiladas and fish tacos? Did Rubios do all that?

TedZark - 1-18-2017 at 06:13 PM

Geez, every place you go to claims to have invented the margarita. Personally, I think it was the bar at the Riviera. Tasty! Buzzworthy! Since the story relates (in theory) to the daughter of the German ambassador, I don't think she was hanging at Hussongs! More likely the Riviera. Or maybe she was boozing it up all over Baja. The Krauts do like their booze. Me too. My grandmother was first generation American from Germany. My great-grandfather fought in the war. On the other side!

I tried Ceasar's in TJ and it was... just okay. Nice room. Decent staff. Okay salad. I liked the room and its old design more than the food. Nice building. Would make a great house or office conversion.

[Edited on 1-19-2017 by TedZark]

BajaBlanca - 1-19-2017 at 01:27 PM

Those pics of the food made my mouth water!

I second the request for the "original" recipe.

Do you know what? Even though there are only 3 ingredients, how they are put together REALLY makes for a different taste IMO. George, here at our Cabañas Restaurant definitely has it down!

bajaguy - 1-19-2017 at 01:42 PM

This is the "original" recipe, has more that 3 ingredients. We make it all the time. Cesar's in TJ has it printed out on cards and gives it away free if you go in and ask them.

http://partaste.com/worldrecipes/original-tijuana-caesar-sal...

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

I second the request for the "original" recipe.

Do you know what? Even though there are only 3 ingredients, how they are put together REALLY makes for a different taste IMO. George, here at our Cabañas Restaurant definitely has it down!

DENNIS - 1-19-2017 at 02:40 PM

There's also a legend about the birth of the Margarita taking place in some bar on the La Gloria road between Rosarito and TJ.
Quien sabe.

mtgoat666 - 1-19-2017 at 02:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

This is the "original" recipe, has more that 3 ingredients. We make it all the time. Cesar's in TJ has it printed out on cards and gives it away free if you go in and ask them.

http://partaste.com/worldrecipes/original-tijuana-caesar-sal...

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

That's not a bad recipe, but I prefer my cesar salad with anchovies
Anchovies may not be original, but anchovies make it better

DENNIS - 1-19-2017 at 04:10 PM

Anchovies belong on a hook. Not on my dinner table.

Russ - 1-19-2017 at 04:18 PM

Agree with the anchovies. If in Laguna ( south end hill side on PCH) try Dizz's As Is. A bit spendy but the food is 1st class and their Ceasar dressing is the best I've had and you can taste the anchovy. http://www.dizzsasis.com/

[Edited on 1-19-2017 by Russ]

Hook - 1-19-2017 at 08:26 PM

Is Dizz's still going? Great to hear! That's where I learned about straight vermouth with a twist of lemon peel as a great aperitif.

I'm all in on anchovies for the flavor. But the combination of the parmesan cheese and the anchovies must be monitored for an overabundance of salt. Yes, Caesar dressing is a salty concoction, but it can be made overly so. Taste the anchovies (or the anchovy paste) and the cheese for saltiness and determine if you need to back off on the parmensan to reduce the salt.

Anchovy reduction is NOT an option!!!!

willardguy - 1-19-2017 at 08:35 PM

depending who you want to believe....Livio created this dish with what he happened to have on hand in the kitchen, no reason everyone shouldn't do the same

Barry A. - 1-19-2017 at 08:50 PM

I remember as a kid (1940's 50's) a great restaurant in Coronado, THE LA AVIENIDA claimed a lineage to the original recipe for "Ceaser's Salad", which they did claim came from TJ. I still love that salad as the absolute best. I can't believe I am agreeing with "the Goat", but I love anchovies in my Ceaser's also!!! When given the choice, I ALWAYS choose "Ceaser's Salad".

tripledigitken - 1-19-2017 at 10:02 PM

I'm in the camp of the anchovie version....but fyi, one of the key ingredients of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is anchovies so balancing the addition of each ( anch. and Worcestershire) is the art of a good dressing, imo.

Ken

Russ - 1-20-2017 at 04:44 AM

Hook, They're still serving the sherry, pate & toast wedges before meals. Nice touch.
Forgot about the parimisium cheese, a must also. Muy rico!

Quote: Originally posted by Hook

Is Dizz's still going? Great to hear! That's where I learned about straight vermouth with a twist of lemon peel as a great aperitif.

[Edited on 1-20-2017 by Russ]

Mateo-Feo - 2-9-2018 at 11:29 PM

Gonna try this Cesar recipe stat

soylent_green - 3-21-2018 at 01:32 PM

Caesars in TJ also serves the "Ensalada Victors"
Old old timers remember this from the old now gone Victor's Restaurant.

Here are some interesting articles on it. Nice that Caesars pays homage to it still. They also make it table style.
http://classicsandiego.com/restaurants/victors-tijuana/
http://www.sandiegored.com/en/news/109457/Gems-of-Baja-The-V...

BajaMama - 3-21-2018 at 01:41 PM

I used to live in Laguna 1978-1988, had my first wedding anniversary dinner at Dizz's as Is late 80's. Great place.