Where did Rach Dressing come from...
Where did Rach Dressing come from...
After leaving Alaska, Steven Henderson and his wife, Gayle, settled down on a 120-acre ranch near Santa Barbara, California, renaming it Hidden Valley Guest Ranch. Here, tourists reveled in the stunning Santa Ynez mountains, enjoyed horseback rides, and indulged in Henderson's signature buttermilk dressing, crafted from a blend of garlic, onions, herbs, spices, and a touch of mayonnaise. The response was enthusiastic – guests not only admired the scenery but also developed a fondness for the salad, perhaps enhanced by the spirited atmosphere of Hidden Valley Guest Ranch.
As a tradition, Henderson sent visitors home with jars of his dressing, sparking a demand that led him to offer dry seasoning packets for sale at a local grocery store in 1964. The popularity soared, prompting the Henson's to shift their focus entirely to dressing production, abandoning the dude ranch business.
In 1972, Henderson sold the brand and product rights to Clorox for a substantial $8 million. Clorox's innovation to transform the dressing mix into a shelf-stable bottled version in 1983 ignited a culinary sensation nationwide. It swiftly evolved into a favored dip in the late ‘80s and surpassed Italian dressing in popularity by 1992, holding its reign as America’s favorite salad dressing, according to consumer market data.
Although Henderson trademarked the name "Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing," he missed out on trademarking "ranch dressing," leading to a flurry of companies capitalizing on its success. The irresistible blend of tangy buttermilk, savory dill, vibrant alliums, and mustard proved immensely profitable, particularly in the snack industry. Just three years after the bottled dressing's debut, Doritos introduced its iconic Cool Ranch flavor in 1986.
#saladrecipe #foodie #eatingfood
Leave a comment