Cambridge (Boston) , Massachusetts

Traditional Caesar Salad flavors are easy with homemade dressing and croutons.  Garlic, lemon and a hint of anchovy are emulsified in mayonnaise and extra virgin olive oil for a creamy dressing on crisp Romaine leaves.  Top with crunchy cheesy croutons.

 

MAPPING THE DAY

Remember the Cheers TV show in the 1980’s?  Regulars of a Boston establishment shared their lives with each other while drinking at the bar where everyone knows your name.  The theme song comes to mind in an instant:

 

“Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name.”

 

LOCAL STORY

  

We happened into a downstairs bar in Harvard Square/Cambridge on a Saturday afternoon.  We ordered a couple Narragansett beers on tap.  A gentleman walked in soon after us, sat on a barstool nearby.  He was greeted by the bartender: “Hello Doc”.  Before the guest was settled, his martini with a twist was in front of him.  We suddenly felt like we were right there at Cheers with Sam Malone, Carla, Cliff and Norm.

We could not help but make up a story about our bar mate.  He was dressed in a tweedy jacket, his graying hair a little windblown.  We imagined that he was a renowned professor from Harvard University located a few blocks away.

VIEW FROM THE TABLE

We perused the menu for a late afternoon snack, he for his dinner.  After we ordered a Caesar Salad, we finally started a conversations with him about his menu selection.  We discovered a very interesting man. He was not a professor at all.  He said he attended Harvard more than 40 years ago and never left Cambridge.  He then vaguely described a committee that he works on with “very smart people”.  He was humble, soft-spoken and maybe alone.  But he could walk into a bar and they knew his name.

 

Our Caesar Salad really hit the spot that late afternoon with bold flavors, crisp lettuce and satisfying crunch.  Make this traditional version as a side dish or add some chicken or fish for an entree.

CAESAR SALAD

 

[button link=”http://roadtripflavors.com/recipe/ceasar-salad/” type=”big” color=”green” newwindow=”yes”] RECIPE: Caesar Salad[/button]

 

 

[button link=”http://roadtripflavors.com/recipe/homemade-cheesy-garlic-croutons/” type=”big” color=”green” newwindow=”yes”] RECIPE: Cheesy Croutons[/button]