The Caesar salad has to be my favourite of all salads. It’s so simple but when it’s made perfectly, the taste is quite sensational – tart, peppery, smooth and crispy all at once. But why is it so hard to find just the right one? All you need is whole, fresh cos lettuce leaves – they are meant to be eaten by the stem with your fingers – garlic, the best quality extra virgin olive oil, wine vinegar, lemon juice, a dash of Worcester sauce, free-range egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, anchovies and freshly prepared croutons (made with yesterday’s bread, today!).

If there’s a Caesar salad on a menu, I always order it. I’ve even been known to ask chefs to prepare one for me even if it’s not on offer! Unfortunately, not many have lived up to my fond memories of the one prepared at old The Grill Room at The Mount Nelson. One of the sous chefs would proudly rub a wooden bowl with garlic and toss up the best-ever Caesar salad right in front of you. The flavours were extraordinarily well-balanced and each leaf was coated with a sublime dressing mostly composed of just-coddled egg – heaven!

I must also give credit to The Saxon in Johannesburg whose chef prepared a great Caesar salad at my table – I do love this about hotel dining. A few plump white anchovies provided the tangy taste explosion that this salad should always boast. If you know of somewhere that serves the perfect Caesar salad, please let me know so I can add it to my small (sad) list.

I also have one other thing to tell you Eat Outers; once again it’s time for our “Best of” digi mags. Since there’s not much time left until the World Cup starts, we thought it would be ideal to kick off with local kos.

So please vote for your favourite local restaurant. It may be one that serves traditional South African fare, the best malva pudding you’ve ever tasted, or a restaurant that celebrates locally grown produce.

Let us know which ones you love. Vote here.

Happy eating and voting!

Abigail