Eat Arkansas

Speaking of Fisher's Wop Salad, I've long been a fan of the house dressing that goes on that; an almost-but-not-quite Thousand Island.

My son's a train buff, and a couple years back in one of his books on the Southern Pacific Railroad, I ran across a recipe for the SPRR's "Southern Pacific Dressing" (maybe a few old-timers out there will remember the famous Southern Pacific Salad Bowl, a treat for coast-to-coast rail riders in the days before year-round fresh veggies at every grocery store). I swear it turned out as close to Fisher's house dressing as it comes.

GARDEN SALAD BOWL WITH SOUTHERN PACIFIC DRESSING

SOUTHERN PACIFIC DRESSING
1 Tbsp. English mustard
1 level tsp. salt
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup currant jelly
2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup catsup

Stir mustard and salt into vinegar until dissolved. Add jelly and stir until smooth. Add mayonnaise and catsup and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container.

SALAD
4 medium tomatoes
2 medium heads lettuce
1 cucumber
1/2 bunch radishes, sliced thin
1/2 green pepper, cut in strips
1 tsp. sugar
pinch, salt
1/3 cup Southern Pacific dressing

Peel tomatoes. Cut each tomato into quarters and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, break lettuce into bite-sized pieces into a bowl. Pare the cucumber, score all sides lengthwise with the tines of a fork, and slice thin. In a large salad bowl, arrange a bed of lettuce. Top with tomato wedges, cucumber, radishes, and green pepper. Sprinkle sugar and salt over all. Pour on the dressing and toss lightly before serving.

I seem to remember that Helen Martin, at the old D-Lux on Dickson Street (anybody not know where that is?), had a "Wop Salad" (her husband Pat was a New Jersey Italian) that she made sometimes, although it was never listed on the menu. I think it featured strips of cheese and salami, and maybe some olives.