From The Food Encyclopedia by Jacques Rolland and Carol Sherman
A salad dressing made with mayonnaise, buttermilk, herbs and spices, used on salads and as a dipping sauce for crudités or other appetizers. The first ranch dressing was created in the late 1950s by Steve Henson and served exclusively at his Hidden Valley Guest Ranch, near Santa Barbara, California. The guests loved the tangy buttermilk dressing so much, they convinced him to package his secret spice blend so that they could make it at home, and the famous Hidden Valley Original Ranch salad dressing was born. Today, hundreds of versions are available, and the dressing - original or imitations - can be found on the shelves of almost any North American grocery store.
