At Caioti’s Pizza Cafe in Studio City, California, a steady stream of expectant mothers flock to sample a dish known simply as “The Salad,” which many believe has the power to trigger labor. When pregnancy stretches beyond the due date, desperation often leads women to try anything from castor oil to pineapple. However, the allure of this salad draws in a mix of hopeful moms and their partners.
Owner Lisa Greene shared with Buzzfeed that the legend of The Salad dates back nearly three decades. “It all began when a pregnant woman dined here and shortly after she started having contractions,” she recounted. This anecdote has transformed into an enduring urban legend, and now the cafe sees between five to twenty pregnant customers daily, often accompanied by their husbands, who frequently opt for takeout.
While the cafe doesn’t formally endorse The Salad as a labor inducer, the outcomes have been hard to ignore. A plaque on the wall honors babies who arrived shortly after their mothers enjoyed the dish. Notably, celebrity chef James Harlow’s wife, Tara, also tried the salad and welcomed their daughter, Lily, just two days later.
Expectant mothers who indulge in The Salad have the opportunity to leave encouraging notes in a special guest book, rallying support for one another and urging their little ones to “GET OUT!” The ingredients are refreshingly straightforward: a generous serving of romaine lettuce, watercress, walnuts, and Gorgonzola cheese. Many speculate that the balsamic basil vinaigrette is the true catalyst for contractions; some moms even resort to taking shots of the dressing in hopes of speeding up the process.
For those not residing in California, the exact recipe for the dressing remains a closely guarded secret. While the cafe offers a general idea of the ingredients—including olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and other herbs—the staff must sign confidentiality agreements to keep the precise blend under wraps. Caioti’s does bottle its balsamic basil dressing for sale, although it appears their online store is currently inactive. If you have a friend in the Studio City area, consider asking them to send you a care package or plan a babymoon to get your hands on the salad.
And yes, they serve pizza too!
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In summary, The Salad from Caioti’s Pizza Cafe has garnered a reputation among expectant mothers as a potential labor inducer, with a history of success stories fueling its popularity. While the exact reason for its effectiveness remains a mystery, the simple ingredients and supportive atmosphere keep women returning for a taste of hope.