Today's Case:
Trader Vic's French Dressing
Re: Trader Vic's French Dressing Recipe Request
From: Kristi
Phaedrus
Date: 6/16/2025, 7:21 AM
On 6/16/2025 12:48 AM, Kristi wrote:
Trader Vic’s French Dressing
Hello Kristi,
You don't say whether you mean his regular French Dressing or the "Vinaigrette." I guess it doesn't matter much, because I cannot find the actual recipe for either one.
I did find a list of bottle ingredients: Salad Oil, Parsley, Salt, Basil, Celery, Green Onions, Rosemary, Ground Black Pepper, Marjoram, Red Wine, Shallots.
In "Trader Vic’s Book of Food & Drink," he says the actual recipe is secret, but he gives the below recipe as being good and similar. Best I can do. Note that the ingredients match the bottle ingredients above.
Phaed
Trader Vic's French Dressing
3 large shallots or green onions, finely chopped
1 stalk celery
Liberal amount of parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon dried sweet basil
Pinch of rosemary
Pinch of marjoram
1 1⁄3 cups salad oil
2⁄3 cup tarragon-flavored red wine vinegar
Chop the shallots, celery, and parsley together until they’re as fine as coffee grounds.
Combine this mixture with the remaining ingredients and let the dressing stand for
several hours before serving it over the salad. Be sure the red wine vinegar is
tarragon-flavored. I sometimes add a tablespoon of crushed or shaved ice to chill the
mixture before using. This is especially desirable if the wine vinegar is strong.
