Why is there bacon in my Caesar Salad?

I've eaten a lot of Caesar salads in my life, but I had never had one with bacon in it until I moved here. I've noticed quite a few restaurants in the Ajijic area include bacon in their basic Caesar. Is bacon a common ingredient in Caesar salads elsewhere and I just never noticed? Is it a regional thing?

No, the original Caesar has no bacon. What a sacrilege.

Some do, some don't. I have had it both ways in Canada.

Caesar salad does not get bacon. This is someone's idea of an improvement on a classic - which needs no improvement, it's perfect as it is.

Same thing about anchovies.... individual taste.

I am quite fond of Ceasar Salad which I often make at home. Bacon sounds like a fine addition so I'll have try that next time.

oatsie wrote:Same thing about anchovies....  individual taste.

No, bacon in a Caesar salad IS NOT the same thing as anchovies. Anchovies are a key ingredient that makes a Caesar salad a Caesar salad. Bacon is a variation.

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/classic-caesar-salad

Ceaser salad, either plain or with bacon, chicken or shrimp has been around for ages and available just about everywhere here, the US and Canada. Somebody doesn't get out enough.

Even McDonalds has a chicken/bacon Caesar wrap.......

CanuckBob wrote:Ceaser salad, either plain or with bacon, chicken or shrimp has been around for ages and available just about everywhere here, the US and Canada. Somebody doesn't get out enough.

Even McDonalds has a chicken/bacon Caesar wrap.......

These are variations, styled after Caesar salad, not true Caesar salads. McDonalds chicken/bacon Caesar wrap? Seriously? That is an abomination just slightly more "authentic" than the McRibs sandwich, another food substitute brought to you by modern chemistry.

So you also would find it unusual to find bacon bits in a ceaser salad?

Of course! 
And I agree with LOL, a true abomination. It's hard to improve perfection.

Seriously, people, bitching about bacon??? I doubt if even bennie/betty/bronco/susan/etc. could find fault with bacon. If God had given the Jews bacon instead of manna they'd be content to be wandering around the desert still. True fact, I think it's in the bible!

CanuckBob wrote:So you also would find it unusual to find bacon bits in a ceaser salad?

Yes, I certainly would. But, apparently, I am lacking in experience and do not frequent the same fine dining establishments you do.

mattoleriver wrote:Seriously, people, bitching about bacon??? I doubt if even bennie/betty/bronco/susan/etc. could find fault with bacon. If God had given the Jews bacon instead of manna they'd be content to be wandering around the desert still. True fact, I think it's in the bible!

I am not bitching about bacon. I have no objections at all to bacon having even ordered a bacon omelet with a side of bacon. ("You want the bacon on the side?" "No, I want a side of bacon in addition to my bacon omelet.") I agree with the biblical awesomeness of bacon. I am merely saying that a true Caesar salad does not contain bacon.

Right. And besides, it would make it too salty with the anchovies.

The bacon bits in a salad are not intended to mingle long with the anchovies, but should be carefully picked out and secreted under your napkin until the main course meats are served, and you have made the first cut. At that point, the diner is to drop one bacon bit under the table and is to repeat that action after each second bite of his meat course. This should suffice to prevent obvious squirming or utterances from the canine companion that you would otherwise have subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, as you devoured your steak in solitude and with no consideration for his vastly superior olfactory capabilities.

RV: Thanks for a good laugh!
Render under Caesar what belongs to Caesar and keep the bacon OUT of it!

I think they believe that the bacon taste is an adequate substitute for anchovies - it is not.

Probably those fake bacon bits anyway.

I've had Caesar Salads with and without bacon... with and without anchovies... with and without croutons. The Romaine has been torn into pieces or served whole leaf. It all comes down to what you like and what the chef is preparing.
I can tell you that my eyebrows damn near hit my hairline when I saw a table side Caesar being prepared and yellow French's mustard out of a jar was used... instead of dry powdered mustard.
Tasted pretty damn good too.

Lady Otter Latté wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:So you also would find it unusual to find bacon bits in a ceaser salad?

Yes, I certainly would. But, apparently, I am lacking in experience and do not frequent the same fine dining establishments you do.

 
Sure sounds that way.......

ferret wrote:I've had Caesar Salads with and without bacon... with and without anchovies... with and without croutons. The Romaine has been torn into pieces or served whole leaf. It all comes down to what you like and what the chef is preparing.
I can tell you that my eyebrows damn near hit my hairline when I saw a table side Caesar being prepared and yellow French's mustard out of a jar was used... instead of dry powdered mustard.
Tasted pretty damn good too.

The chef can make a salad with iceberg lettuce, ketsup, and hot dog slices and call it a Caesar salad. That won't make it one -- even if I like it (which I wouldn't).

That is pushing reality just way too far... as in not resembling a Caesar even remotely.
Everybody seems very crusty lately. Is there a reason for this?

I thought we were having fun with this. I am anyway!

Trailrunner wrote:I thought we were having fun with this. I am anyway!

It appears that some people's fun is another person's "crusty," which sounds vaguely disgusting. Sounds as though someone is projecting perhaps? Don't see how anyone could take this thread seriously.