Hail Caesar! Happy 50th Anniversary

It was 50 years ago today that the Caesar was launched at the Westin Hotel (then the Calgary Hotel) here in Calgary by Chef Walter Chell.

Developed as a signature drink for a new restaurant located in the hotel, the Caesar (or Bloody Ceaser for those not in a hurry to order one) went through a number of iterations before the final recipe was locked down. Featuring tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper, as well as the signature muddled clam, the spicy drink launched an unexpected legacy—one that continues to this day.

These days you can grab Clamato Juice in any grocery store in Canada (USA not so much) and although the so-called Classic Caesar was made from scratch, today’s recipe calls for Mott’s, making it available to everyone, not just those in Calgary.

Remember the iterations Chef Chell went through before he landed on his classic? Well, that tradition continues. Nearly every upscale restaurant in Calgary has their own take on the Caesar, up to and including an impaled mini-burger. If you want to read a little about some of those variations, Hail Caesar!