Oscar Tschirky, the maître d’ of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, created the original recipe for Waldorf salad, which consisted of equal amounts of chopped apples and celery blended with mayonnaise. Later, walnuts were added, increasing the popularity of this salad, and over time the recipe has been embellished with various ingredients to fit the tastes of the period. In the eastern United States, the dish has become a part of the traditional Thanksgiving meal, adding a taste of freshness to the feast.
Recipe courtesy of Williams-Sonoma and Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library Series, Thanksgiving & Christmas, by Chuck Williams (Time-Life Books, 1993).