Basic Cobb Salad

The Brown Derby restaurant, which opened its doors in 1929, was as famous a part of Hollywood's golden age as Mann's Chinese Theater or Schwab's drugstore. It was a meeting place and hangout for such stars as Cecil B. DeMille, the Barrymores, and Rudolph Valentino, as well as many Hollywood hopefuls. According to legend, the Brown Derby made a lasting contribution to American cuisine when its manager, Bob Cobb, fixed a late-night meal from leftovers he found in the kitchen, including chicken, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, and hard-boiled eggs. He placed them on a bed of lettuce, drizzled them with dressing, and single-handedly invented the Cobb salad. Like the Caesar salad, the basic Cobb has inspired countless variations, including this delicious version.