Beverly Hills Hotel's Legendary Polo Lounge McCarthy Salad

The Beverly Hills Hotel (aka “The Pink Palace”) is a legendary Old Hollywood spot. The hotel’s Polo Lounge has served this chopped salad since the 1940s, when it was created for frequent guest and local polo player Neil McCarthy. It’s been on the menu ever since, and the hotel serves nearly 600 McCarthy Salads each week. This concoction is very similar to another iconic LA creation—the Cobb salad.

Ingredients:

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 garlic clove, grated

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

12 oz iceberg lettuce, finely chopped

12 oz hearts of romaine, finely chopped

2 oz watercress, finely chopped

½ lb red beets, roasted and finely diced

½ lb aged Cheddar cheese, finely diced

½ lb applewood-smoked bacon, cooked and finely chopped

3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and finely chopped

½ lb grilled chicken breast, finely diced

1 large vine-ripened tomato, peeled, seeded and diced

1 avocado, peeled and sliced

Instructions:

Combine first 5 ingredients in a measuring cup; whisk to combine.

Combine iceberg, romaine and watercress. Divide among 4 large salad bowls. Arrange beets, cheese, bacon, eggs, chicken and tomatoes artfully on each serving. Drizzle with dressing. Top with avocado and serve with extra dressing on the side.