"The hotel has changed its recipe significantly in the last century, specifically using olive oil rather than mayonnaise along with tarragon vinegar, Dijon, capers, and other bold flavors. But Roemer's version was mayonnaise-forward and served on top of a canned artichoke, which was considered something opulent in 1923. But where things get especially unsettling is in the original play itself, where Arliss played Raja of Rukh. While the character is meant to be Indian, Arliss was a white British actor."
"He reprised the role in 1923 in the silent film adaptation and then again in the 1930 sound remake, but each version essentially had Arliss in brownface. While he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the part in 1930, it comes across as highly problematic these days. Typically, works with racist roots struggle to thrive. Even the silent "The Green Goddess" is loaded with offensive stereotypes and imagery. Reviews are not kind either, since modern audiences see the racism, colonialism, and poor storytelling"
Green Goddess is a vibrant, herbal, creamy dressing that offers more complexity than ranch or a vinaigrette. The dressing was named in honor of the 1921 play The Green Goddess and originated when Palace Hotel head chef Phillip Roemer created a traditional mayonnaise-forward version served atop a canned artichoke. The Palace Hotel later altered the recipe to use olive oil, tarragon vinegar, Dijon, capers, and other bold flavors. The play starred George Arliss as the Raja of Rukh, a role performed in brownface across stage and film adaptations. Modern audiences view the play as racist, colonialist, and poorly written, which complicates the dressing’s legacy.
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