Thank you Jessica! I was just talking to my Mom yesterday about needing to find out what ChiChi’s, and Lido for that matter use for their red wine vinegarette! This is so simple and will try soon!. We have been going to Chi-Chi’s religiously for all my life and I am now 48!. The best pizza and antipasto!!!!. Btw. Not sure how far away or where you are now but I have found that Italian Deli’s such as Monte Carlo/Pinocchio’s in Burbank, CA sell the “mozz worms” they are a must with the dressing!
Can’t wait to make it with my mom! I’ll bring the worms!!!!
John Atwater Village, CA
Jessica Fisher
Very cool! I’m in San Diego now, but I’ll let my sister know about the cheese worms in Burbank! Thanks for the tip.
Desiree
Anyone know how to make the cheese the same shape? The code I’ve found is Provel but that’s only in St. Louis
Jessica Fisher
ChiChi’s in So Cal has an odd cheese shredded. I’ve watched them shred it but have no idea how it works.
Brian
I worked at a Chi Chi’s for several years (a couple decades ago) but now live across the country… can’t get it when i want so I’ve tried my best to duplicate! A meat grinder attachment on my kitchen aid seems to work quite well for the “cheese worms”! It has to be a low moisture mozzarella, and works best blended with a jack cheese.
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for the tip!
Robin in North Idaho
This recipe is spot-on!!!!! A huge THANK YOU for this recipe! We moved away from southern CA a couple of years ago, and I have so missed the Chi Chi’s antipasto salad and pizza that we got quite often at the Northridge restaurant. It was always my favorite, but I never could figure out how to replicate it. Thanks to you, I’m able to enjoy it again.
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much.
Barb
I grew up in the SFV and my family have been ChiChis loyal customers forever. Best pizza anywhere. Sad when the Van Nuys restaurant closed. Now we go to Lidos any time I go visit. So excited to find this and can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks for figuring it out. I’d put this stuff on anything. I have the best memories of dipping the pizza crust in the left over dressing.
Donna Tucker
I grew up in Newhall and have lived out of state for decades. However, whenever I visit the area, Chi Chi’s is a must have! This salad is my favorite and I make a lot of salads. I was thrilled to find your post yesterday! Made it for dinner last night alongside lasagne with homemade sauce and garlic bread, and every last tidbit was gone. Now if you could only duplicate the cheese pizza!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you liked it. We’ve actually come close to the pizza. Try this Cheese Pizza with the Basic Pizza Dough.
Carly McAdam
After growing up in SCV and moving out of state I’m THRILLED to find this recipe! Thank you! Now if you could figure out the old blu cheese dressing, they recently changed it, my husband would be ecstatic!!! Take care!
Hi! I’m so excited to see someone do a copycat of my absolute favorite salad ever! I just tried it though and all I could taste was the vegetable oil. Does the dressing need to sit and mesh together before trying it? Any tips? I’m dying to do a DIY antipasto salad!
Jessica Fisher
Have you ever ordered ChiChi’s dressing on the side? It usually is pretty oily, probably more oil than I use here. Keep in mind though that the oil will rise to the top. So, if you haven’t stirred or shaken well, you’ll get more oil when you pour than vinegar. If you like you can add more vinegar, but typical dressings are a 1 to 3 ratio, with the oil being the larger percentage. Hope that helps!
I haven’t been to ChiChi’s in years, but that salad is still my favorite. 🙂 Are you from Saugus or some other location?
Katie
Thanks for the tips! I must be using the wrong oil because it’s all I can taste…yikes!
I haven’t been to Chi Chi’s in years either but I’m hoping to get a salad when I visit California next month. I’m so excited! I’m originally from Palmdale but Chi Chi’s was always worth the trek!
Jessica Fisher
Did you end up getting ChiChi’s during your trip?
Matt
Wow. I can’t believe I found your posts and this article.
I grew up in Saugus. Going to Chi chis was a reward for months of good behavior.
I live in Orange County now but I make the drive to the chi chis in the valley just for the salad. I know. I’m not right in the head.
Gonna give this a try
Jessica Fisher
Fun! Keep in mind that some of the pics feature thinner shreds of cheese because that’s what I had when I took those photos. Folks have kinda freaked out about that. If you are a Saugus regular, then you probably remember Jerry. He’s worked there FOREVER. He and I talked about the cheese in-depthly. While we all think that the worm-style cut is unique to ChiChi’s, he said it’s just a mixture of mozzarella and monterey jack.
Katie
Sorry for the super late response to this! I just saw it ? I sure did! But let me just say thank you soooo much for this recipe because you NAILED the recipe and it has been a total lifesaver for myself and my mom and sister! Seriously, it is dead on and sooo delicious!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you like it!
kris
Thanks for the recipe. Now if we could only do the cheese like they do!! Id be in heaven.
Jessica Fisher
I talked with the guy who’s been making pizza since I was a baby. He said it’s a combination of jack and mozzarella. 😉
John
Thank you Jessica! I was just talking to my Mom yesterday about needing to find out what ChiChi’s, and Lido for that matter use for their red wine vinegarette! This is so simple and will try soon!. We have been going to Chi-Chi’s religiously for all my life and I am now 48!. The best pizza and antipasto!!!!. Btw. Not sure how far away or where you are now but I have found that Italian Deli’s such as Monte Carlo/Pinocchio’s in Burbank, CA sell the “mozz worms” they are a must with the dressing!
Can’t wait to make it with my mom! I’ll bring the worms!!!!
John Atwater Village, CA
Jessica Fisher
Very cool! I’m in San Diego now, but I’ll let my sister know about the cheese worms in Burbank! Thanks for the tip.
Desiree
Anyone know how to make the cheese the same shape? The code I’ve found is Provel but that’s only in St. Louis
Jessica Fisher
ChiChi’s in So Cal has an odd cheese shredded. I’ve watched them shred it but have no idea how it works.
Brian
I worked at a Chi Chi’s for several years (a couple decades ago) but now live across the country… can’t get it when i want so I’ve tried my best to duplicate! A meat grinder attachment on my kitchen aid seems to work quite well for the “cheese worms”! It has to be a low moisture mozzarella, and works best blended with a jack cheese.
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for the tip!
Robin in North Idaho
This recipe is spot-on!!!!! A huge THANK YOU for this recipe! We moved away from southern CA a couple of years ago, and I have so missed the Chi Chi’s antipasto salad and pizza that we got quite often at the Northridge restaurant. It was always my favorite, but I never could figure out how to replicate it. Thanks to you, I’m able to enjoy it again.
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much.
Barb
I grew up in the SFV and my family have been ChiChis loyal customers forever. Best pizza anywhere. Sad when the Van Nuys restaurant closed. Now we go to Lidos any time I go visit. So excited to find this and can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks for figuring it out. I’d put this stuff on anything. I have the best memories of dipping the pizza crust in the left over dressing.
Donna Tucker
I grew up in Newhall and have lived out of state for decades. However, whenever I visit the area, Chi Chi’s is a must have! This salad is my favorite and I make a lot of salads. I was thrilled to find your post yesterday! Made it for dinner last night alongside lasagne with homemade sauce and garlic bread, and every last tidbit was gone. Now if you could only duplicate the cheese pizza!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you liked it. We’ve actually come close to the pizza. Try this Cheese Pizza with the Basic Pizza Dough.
Carly McAdam
After growing up in SCV and moving out of state I’m THRILLED to find this recipe! Thank you! Now if you could figure out the old blu cheese dressing, they recently changed it, my husband would be ecstatic!!! Take care!
Jessica Fisher
Try this one. ?
Katie
Hi! I’m so excited to see someone do a copycat of my absolute favorite salad ever! I just tried it though and all I could taste was the vegetable oil. Does the dressing need to sit and mesh together before trying it? Any tips? I’m dying to do a DIY antipasto salad!
Jessica Fisher
Have you ever ordered ChiChi’s dressing on the side? It usually is pretty oily, probably more oil than I use here. Keep in mind though that the oil will rise to the top. So, if you haven’t stirred or shaken well, you’ll get more oil when you pour than vinegar. If you like you can add more vinegar, but typical dressings are a 1 to 3 ratio, with the oil being the larger percentage. Hope that helps!
I haven’t been to ChiChi’s in years, but that salad is still my favorite. 🙂 Are you from Saugus or some other location?
Katie
Thanks for the tips! I must be using the wrong oil because it’s all I can taste…yikes!
I haven’t been to Chi Chi’s in years either but I’m hoping to get a salad when I visit California next month. I’m so excited! I’m originally from Palmdale but Chi Chi’s was always worth the trek!
Jessica Fisher
Did you end up getting ChiChi’s during your trip?
Matt
Wow. I can’t believe I found your posts and this article.
I grew up in Saugus. Going to Chi chis was a reward for months of good behavior.
I live in Orange County now but I make the drive to the chi chis in the valley just for the salad. I know. I’m not right in the head.
Gonna give this a try
Jessica Fisher
Fun! Keep in mind that some of the pics feature thinner shreds of cheese because that’s what I had when I took those photos. Folks have kinda freaked out about that. If you are a Saugus regular, then you probably remember Jerry. He’s worked there FOREVER. He and I talked about the cheese in-depthly. While we all think that the worm-style cut is unique to ChiChi’s, he said it’s just a mixture of mozzarella and monterey jack.
Katie
Sorry for the super late response to this! I just saw it ? I sure did! But let me just say thank you soooo much for this recipe because you NAILED the recipe and it has been a total lifesaver for myself and my mom and sister! Seriously, it is dead on and sooo delicious!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you like it!
kris
Thanks for the recipe. Now if we could only do the cheese like they do!! Id be in heaven.
Jessica Fisher
I talked with the guy who’s been making pizza since I was a baby. He said it’s a combination of jack and mozzarella. 😉
Stephenie J Mahiai
Can you get recipe for the blue cheese? ??
Jessica Fisher
Try this one. 🙂
Candi @ Family Stamping and FOOD!
This is one of our favorite salad’s now… thanks so much for sharing it!!!