In honor of the 93rd Academy Awards, it's time to celebrate the Oscars. There will be an estimated 20+ million people watching, entertaining + celebrating the Oscars this Sunday. But there is another noteworthy Oscar celebrated at many Waldorf parties and would be a welcomed winner in the top food category.
Oscar Tschirky, maître d’hôtel of Delmonico’s Restaurant and the Waldorf Astoria in NYC
Waldorf Astoria NYC circa 1890
He is known as the creator of such popular classic dishes as Waldorf Salad, Veal Oscar, Eggs Benedict, and Thousand Island Dressing. It may just be the name implies thousands of recipes - for this dressing, and rumors abound as to the true creator. I can assure you it was not Kraft or Wish-Bone, though. This is what I believe to be true, or Oscar of The Waldorf.
The Oscars Award Banquet, 1940, The Ambassador Hotel
At the turn of the century, self-made multi-millionaire and hotel magnate George C. Boldt, owner of the New York City's Waldorf Astoria, enjoyed vacationing in the 1000 Islands. Mr. Boldt and his wife Louise enjoyed this area of the St. Lawrence River region so much so that George had Boldt Castle built for his wife. He would entertain many wealthy friends and business associates on the island.
Oscar accompanied Mr. Boldt on his trips to the 1000 Islands and George Boldt's Castle. On one trip aboard the yacht, Oscar improvised with the ingredients he had aboard the yacht and concocted the dressing for which the region is now known worldwide. Afterward, Mr. Boldt started serving the dressing at his hotels.
Oscar’s classic Thousand Island Dressing Recipe
“Take one cup mayonnaise dressing, mix, with one-half cup whipped cream, add a small amount of Tarragon vinegar, one-half teaspoonful of Imperial Sauce, then chop one hard-boiled egg, one green pepper, one pimento, one pinch chives, mix well together, and squeeze the juice of one lemon before serving.” You can serve most salads with Thousand Island dressing.
The wide appeal of this dressing has gone far beyond elegant salads served aboard yachts on the St. Lawrence River. Burger joints have topped their meat patties for years with this special sauce - remember that jingle? Then there’s, of course, my preferred In-N-Out-Burgers, where all burgers come standard with Thousand Island dressing. BTW, a secret menu item called "Animal Style"; fries come with Thousand Island Dressing in addition to grilled onions and melted cheese. But when I hear Thousand Island Dressing, I think of a dish with a little more of a classical take, like the topping on a Dungeness Crab or Shrimp Louis.
Click below to watch my updated version of a classic Shrimp Salad…
