since before i was born i have been going to the same restaurant.

not joking. it’s been like almost 40 years.

on the corner of charles street, right around the block from my old apartment, in the middle of the city where everything is constantly changing. it’s still there…it hasn’t changed.

i remember squishing into the booths with my grandma, throwing my uncle an elbow to get the last of the shrimp, spooning paella from the hot pot right into my mouth, oh gosh, those were good times.

we were all together, laughing, smiling, eating. it’s a theme in my family, the food brings us all together.

so when i was there yesterday, as i dove into the salad and slopped up the extra dressing with crunchy bread, the owner came over to say hello as always…and then my uncle, like he knew what i was thinking…he asked…

“in the 40+ years i have been coming here, this, the salad dressing, its never changed. what’s in it?”

he responded…

“eh change, me and my cousin have been making this for years…we no change” and then he rattled off the ingredients.

when he walked away, my uncle tuned around and said…yenta…you need to go home and figure this out…i need this.

and i did, because i’ll do anything for my uncle.

so today, i’m going old school. i’m bringing back catalina…for my uncle…xoxoxo

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catalina dressing

just a note: i love garlic. love. really, love. if you don’t feel the same, add 1 clove (or none). 

to a blender add:

  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 small red onion (or a 1/4 of a medium onion)
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1/2 tsp hot paprika (or not hot, whatever you have)

blend until smooth.

then slowly add in while blending:

  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • pinch of salt and pepper

taste. take it back and chop up some iceberg. go to town.

 

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