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Home > Blogs > Taste: Dayton food and restaurants > Archives > 2009 > April > 29 > Entry
Retired firefighter launches ‘tweaked’ Greek dressing
David Casey liked to tweak recipes when he was working in various city of Dayton firehouses for 28 years, and even summoned up the courage to “improve upon” a Greek dressing recipe that had been in his wife Andrea’s family for generations.
“I always liked it, but I thought it lacked something,” Casey said. “I thought it could be improved.”
Not only is he still married (!), but his fellow firefighters approved the new recipe enthusiastically, and now, he and Andrea have bottled and launched Andi’s Authentic Greek Dressing commercially.
Casey, who retired four years ago and now lives in Vandalia, has for 12 years made the Greek dressing used and sold at the Dayton Greek Festival, producing batches as large as 200 gallons for the popular event.
“Everyone kept saying to me, ‘You should bottle it, you should bottle it,’” Casey said. But instead, he kept responding to requests to make batches for weddings, reunions and other events. “I’ve probably given away a thousand gallons,” he said.
Eventually, he sat down and talked to a former Queen of Martyrs elementary school classmate Lenny Annarino, who bottles Annarino’s spaghetti sauce in Dayton, and soon, Andi’s Authentic Greek Dressing was born.
The bottled dressing is available at Dorothy Lane Market’s three stores in Oakwood, Washington Twp. and Springboro, and it’s also sold at Greg’s Prime Meats in Springboro and at Hock’s Pharmacy in Vandalia. Price ranges from $4.49 to $4.99.
The dressing — tangy with a bit of sweetness and a subtle oregano note — tastes as close to homemade as a bottled dressing can. Casey credits a cider vinegar made by Woeber’s in Springfield (best known for mustards) and a high-quality oil from Wesson for the dressing’s appeal.
Casey helped to unveil the dressing during a product demonstration Saturday, April 25 at DLM’s Washington Square store, while his wife did the same in DLM’s Springboro store. Customer response was positive, and sales were brisk.
Casey is planning to release a second Greek dressing — this one will include feta cheese — within the next year.
But first, he’ll most likely do some tweaking.
(Photo by Mark Fisher)
Permalink | Comments (21) | Post your comment | Categories: Local food news
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By Gary
September 17, 2009 8:23 PM | Link to this
good stuff
By dan
August 8, 2009 4:04 PM | Link to this
Is this a picture of Bill Gates?
By Diane
August 1, 2009 7:31 PM | Link to this
David is a total user of everyone. Always has been, always will be!
By Glenn Seaver
June 7, 2009 11:18 PM | Link to this
Hot Rod Bob’s Salad Dresisng is without a doubt my favorite. It is hard to find, but well worth the search.
By Alex
May 18, 2009 12:48 AM | Link to this
Me to David: David — if you liked Ted’s dressing so much you wouldn’t have created your own. Be proud — its better.
By Alex Moran
May 5, 2009 6:36 PM | Link to this
Hell yeah!
By Louise
May 4, 2009 7:52 PM | Link to this
I tried it on the pasta…it was Great! I don’t like negative comments either…I’m gonna try Teds.
By David C
May 4, 2009 6:53 PM | Link to this
Thanks for all of the support. Please leave out the negative comments about the others. especially Ted’s, i like his and beside that he is a good guy
By leonidas johnson
May 3, 2009 3:31 PM | Link to this
Best Greek Dressin’s Ken’s Greek Dressing Hot Rod Bob’s Greek Dressing David Casey’s Dressing Emerald’s Simply Organic Annie’s Organic Manga’s Kalamata Greek Dressing Bishop-Nicholas’ St Clair Shores Greek Dressing Stratton’s Hierarchial Spiritual Directive Dressing Ted’s (needs improvement)
By Joe
May 3, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this
uhm….good for david. if you have had Ted’s Greek Dressing its a joke. Hot Rod Bob’s dressing is really good but I like David Casey’s dressing.
By Yum
May 3, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this
I agree with you…Why the negative comments? How about just enjoying this greek dressing! Thanks Andi!!!
By JamesCaldwell
May 2, 2009 11:02 PM | Link to this
screw you negative people. I’ve had this dressing from the greek festival and couldnt wait to see it in the stores. this family is wonderful for their commitment. and im sure that greek salad dressing isnt that simple to make or im positive the ingridients arent cheap
By FZG
May 2, 2009 2:22 PM | Link to this
This dressing sounds great and we can’t wait to try it out. Thank you Dave & Andi for bringing it to the retail stores for all of us to enjoy!!!!
By kathy b
May 1, 2009 8:55 AM | Link to this
Love ANDI’S-I’ve been a fan of it for yrs.I market for upscale restaurants in Cols. can’t wait to bring it to the Cols.Market.Met Dave-Great Guy!
By Mike S
April 30, 2009 1:39 AM | Link to this
“I’ve probably given away a thousand gallons” seems like a bit of an exaggeration. Besides everyone knows that Mama Disalvo’s House salad dressing is the best in dayton.
By truthdetector
April 29, 2009 8:17 PM | Link to this
I’ve never been one to try a lot of new dressings for my salad, but I’m hoping that those that like Greek dressing will give it a try, despite the nay-sayers here. I might even try some if he does a taste test when I’m in the store. (Note: the “post” button is still over the typing box in IE7.)
By Connie Z
April 29, 2009 6:52 PM | Link to this
It sounds wonderful to me! I plan to purchase the dressing as soon as possible. I can’t wait for the second one to come out with the feta.
By Becky
April 29, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this
Great for him. It really is a good dressing. Kudos!
By ?
April 29, 2009 5:12 PM | Link to this
What’s with all the Greek Salad dressing getting made in Dayton? Didn’t DLM start carrying Ted’s Greek Salad dressing a few months ago? Seems like the market is saturated. What about a nice ranch or blue cheese dressing.
By Chefbart
April 29, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this
Anyone that pays $5 for greek salad dressing is dumb. Its basically olive oil, vinegar, pepper,oregano, salt and little garlic powder. Give me a break.
By Kolokotronis
April 29, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this
Must be rocket science to tweak Greek Salad Dressing.