We have a fave place (Reno - gambling) for fries and video poker at the bar. We have ranch with the very best fries. But otherwise we’re mayo for fries. And blue cheese for just about everything else. This place is also a brewery and they use the grains from their beer in their pizza crust. Dipping the edges of the crust in blue cheese dressing is super
The El Dorado?
Silver Peak Brewery
The one on Wonder.
1 Like
Ohhh Jase. You have to try it at Islands or Wing Stop or any reputable (tongue firmly in cheek) bar food type place. They use powdered Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch mixed with sour cream. If you have it at a place that serves the slimy stuff out of a bottle - à la Fat Sals (blech) - it will ruin your opinion for life. I judge these places by the type of Ranch they serve like @PorkyBelly would judge a Sushi spot for its Uni. 
P.S. I love Blue Cheese, Ketchup and Mayo too.
3 Likes
I am so trying that.
Hmmm…ok, next time I’m in one of those places I’ll give it a shot. Although I’ll still ask for blue cheese to be safe. I think I’ve only had it out of the bottle. I’ve seen people pull out bottles from bags at restaurants, Blech!
I’ve converted most of my friends into eating their fries that way if they use ketchup.
1 Like
Good idea
1 Like
Ok, @TheCookie this one is for you. I was doing my weekly shopping at the Sprouts on Venice near Sepulveda and realized there was a Wing Stop in that center. On impulse I stopped in before shopping and got a 10 piece with side order of Ranch. You’re right, it’s better than what I’ve had in the past. I’m still a blue cheese guy but this was actually decent. I still wouldn’t like it in a sandwich over mayo though. I like mayo for it’s richness to sandwiches and the Ranch taste would still compete too much for me.
2 Likes
Yay… I’m a convert.
Yes, blue cheese is great, especially on hot wings.
And I agree, a sandwich must have mayo!
2 Likes
I can’t do Ranch on salads, but I like ranch for dipping fries, carrots sticks, celery, etc. But not the bottled kind! Cheesecake Factory has my favorite Ranch – it’s a garlicky, thinner dressing. Awesome with their shoestring fries and their brown bread (not kidding). Wing Stop’s is good too, but I don’t use it with the wings, only the fries and veggies.
2 Likes
Your turn to report back when you try the ketchup and hot sauce mix for fries.
So I’m learning that the bottled stuff is the nasty one to stay away from. It should be the powder mixed with sour cream. I don’t do veggie dips as a rule. Fries go with ketchup and hot sauce for me as noted. Although I do the aioli bit once in a while. I just can’t see myself doing the ranch regardless of how the ranch quality.
1 Like
My friend used to work at Cheesecake and said the dressing was made in house and used buttermilk and real garlic. It tastes nothing like the powdered ranch dressing mix.
The Bottled/powdered ranch dressings that most people think of are from one specific company (starts with Hidden and ends with Ranch). There are many other companies and restaurants that make ranch dressing. I keep a bottle of Marie’s Creamy Ranch in the fridge for the kids – even they don’t touch the other stuff.
I keep powdered buttermilk on hand for making blue cheese dressing.
1 Like
So what do they actually put into the buttermilk to make it “ranch”. Starting with a base of buttermilk is good. @thecookie what brand powdered do you recommend to mix into the sour cream? You said that’s good?
This from Serious Eats sounds good.
I think it’s the tangy, creamy, herby thing. Kind of like with 1000 island, you want a creamy, tangy, sourish thing that’s orange with bits of pickle in it.
I’ve made this version before and it’s actually really good: Joy The Baker - Homemade Ranch Dressing
Both those recipes have ingredients I like, thanks! I can see them mixing well with the base. Still, it’s just not something I’d want in most things I eat regularly, I think that’s the issue. I wouldn’t want it on a sandwich or as a dip for fries. Salads, I usually stick with blue cheese. Chips, I prefer california dip.
I suppose I may want to try it with a baked potato instead of butter. Thanks to both of you for the recipe, it’ll be good for my arsenal at least when I have guests who like ranch.
What is California dip?
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup mix
1 container sour cream
Sour cream with a packet of Lipton’s onion soup mix stirred in. Grew up with it as a standard for all parties, it’s still a guilty pleasure. Bag of plain Ruffles, tub of sour cream with mix in it and a bottle of soda and I’m like a high school/college kid again. I try not to eat that too often but when friends serve it at a party, I just have to get some.
5 Likes