What creamy salad dressing was invented by Caesar Cardini?

The creamy salad dressing invented by Caesar Cardini is Caesar dressing. It is associated with Caesar salad, which Cardini created at his restaurant, Caesar’s, in Tijuana, Mexico.

Cardini was an Italian-born restaurateur who operated in Tijuana during Prohibition in the United States. According to the family account, a large July 4 crowd in 1924 overwhelmed the kitchen, so he improvised a tableside salad using available ingredients. The dish became popular with visiting Americans and Hollywood figures.

Traditional Caesar dressing is built around ingredients such as olive oil, egg, lemon juice, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Anchovies are common in modern versions, although some early recipes attributed to Cardini reportedly did not include them; Worcestershire sauce supplied some savory flavor.

Caesar dressing is not Thousand Island, Russian, or ranch dressing. The name refers to Caesar Cardini, not Julius Caesar, and the salad was created in Mexico rather than ancient Rome or Italy.