What are you eating?

[Stark]

Why would it matter whether it was done tableside, other than presentation? "Needs" might be stretching it. Morton's makes an excellent one (with anchovies, egg, etc.)

[Luke]

Why would it matter whether it was done tableside, other than presentation?

It doesn't really matter at all.

But...

It was made to prepared tableside, and not having that presentation reminds me of eating pre-made sushi; just isn't the same. Making a Caesar salad really allows a chef to show of his/her panache, and it's great to see one crack the eggs with flair (probably sounds silly and unnecessary to most), create the dressing from scratch right in front of you and so on.

The flip side, in my view, would be going to a fine dining restaurant and ordering a Whopper. Just doesn't feel right.

[prfsnl_gmr]

...and the dressing better contain a raw egg and anchovies.

There are insurance/liability reasons that many restaurants do not use a raw egg. (I agree that it makes the salad way better, however.) Also, when I make salads, I usually toss the greens with the dressing (which is usually just a basic dijon vinaigrette) and "drain" them on a paper towel before I add the other ingredients. This is the method espoused by Julia Child and, in various recipes, Gourmet magazine, and I think it adds a nice flavor to the greens without "contaminating" the other toppings. My wife prefers to pour her dressing, however; so, it isn't for everyone.

Also, I think that tableside preparation is a bit much. It mostly annoys me when I enjoying a nice meal and conversation, and it in no way makes me regard a restaurant as "fancier". (Basically, I want the server to bring an excellent salad to my table, set it in front of me with minimal distraction, and then go away.)

[Stark]

I like it. Silly, but we go to a Mexican restaurant that makes your guac tableside and it's pretty neat.

I agree that usually, like prfsnl_gmr, I want to be left alone to my dinner when I go out, but I think it's because mostly waitstaff don't engage the table and present excellent service most of the time, so why would you want them to hang around?

[prfsnl_gmr]

I like it. Silly, but we go to a Mexican restaurant that makes your guac tableside and it's pretty neat.

That sounds like fun. I guess it just depends on the dining experience you are seeking at each restaurant. At a nice restaurant with my wife (i.e., the only restaurants where I would possibly order a ceasar salad), I want the server to bring my food, top off my wine, and leave. At a mexican restaurant with my family, I would want the servers to make everything table side. (It would be really fun, and my kids would love it!)

[Luke]

...and the dressing better contain a raw egg and anchovies.

There are insurance/liability reasons that many restaurants do not use a raw egg. (I agree that it makes the salad way better, however.) Also, when I make salads, I usually toss the greens with the dressing (which is usually just a basic dijon vinaigrette) and "drain" them on a paper towel before I add the other ingredients. This is the method espoused by Julia Child and, in various recipes, Gourmet magazine, and I think it adds a nice flavor to the greens without "contaminating" the other toppings. My wife prefers to pour her dressing, however; so, it isn't for everyone.

Also, I think that tableside preparation is a bit much. It mostly annoys me when I enjoying a nice meal and conversation, and it in no way makes me regard a restaurant as "fancier". (Basically, I want the server to bring an excellent salad to my table, set it in front of me with minimal distraction, and then go away.)

If you don't have any books or cookbooks by Jacques Pepin, check your local library. He's also prepares salads the classic French way as you also do. He might be one of my favorite chefs and humans of all time.

I agree that tableside prep of the salad doesn't make a restaurant fancy, but as someone who loves to cook I enjoy seeing other people enjoy cooking as well.

[Luke]

I want the server to bring my food, top off my wine, and leave.

Whenever we finally meet, let's go somewhere casual, as I gab with the staff.

Like, I would probably embarrass you a bit with bad jokes that your Father probably wouldn't even tell. As bad as "That's the last straw!" when someone asks for a straw bad? Even worse than that.

[MrPopo]

All of you salad eaters are freaks.

[puke_face]

All of you salad eaters are freaks.

This.

[TSTR]

.........
I just unwrapped this Dove Mint/Dark Chocolate Swirl candy bar, and it's so pretty that I kind of don't want to eat it.

But I will.