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Along with blaring the new Charli XCX album and dressing for a tennis love triangle, TikTok wants you to believe everyone is eating a Caesar salad and fries this summer.
Why exactly are memes celebrating the pairing littering online platforms? They appear to be part of an increasingly gendered cultural (and very online) conversation, occupying the same space as “girl dinner” and a “feminine urge.” It’s the perfect meal for a generation of women who came of age during the calorie-tracking, “earning food” era. The dinner even sounds like an outdated Cosmo tip that Lauren Conrad would recommend so you don’t feel bloated in your skinny jeans at the club.
Ultimately, though, the meal is popular because it’s delicious and dependable.
- Garlicky, umami dressing on crisp romaine, a leaf that falls perfectly in the middle on the iceberg-to-arugula flavor scale. And it’s all complemented by a fried and salted treat.
- Both menu items can usually be found everywhere—from a fancy patio to a road trip diner—and are almost always of decent quality.
Why now? Everyone’s on a budget. The meal is relatively cheap compared with other entrees. And with sit-down restaurant prices jumping 3.5% in May, the Reuben sandwich may feel just slightly out of reach.