What year was the first Caesar salad created?

What year was the first Caesar salad created? The first Caesar salad is generally credited to 1924.

The standard origin story places its creation on July 4, 1924, at Caesar’s restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. Restaurateur Caesar Cardini reportedly assembled the salad during a busy holiday rush when the kitchen was running short of ingredients. The dish was prepared tableside, adding theatrical flair to the meal.

Cardini was an Italian immigrant who lived in San Diego but operated across the border in Tijuana, where American visitors could dine and drink during Prohibition. The original salad was simpler than many modern versions: romaine, Parmesan, croutons, olive oil, citrus, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and coddled egg are associated with early preparations.

The history is not completely uncontested. Some accounts credit Cardini’s brother Alex, restaurant staff, or an earlier cook, and the recipe changed as it spread. Modern Caesar dressings often contain anchovies and mayonnaise, but those ingredients were not necessarily part of Cardini’s original version. The salad was named for Caesar Cardini, not Julius Caesar.