Of dips and dressings

While my daughters Rikki Mae and Ara were enjoying the school fair in Poveda with their classmates, I was going around, too, checking out the bazaar held at the school canteen.

I happened to pass by a small table that had dressings and dips. What caught my eye was one particular dressing, Wasabi Vinaigrette. I had apprehensions at first as I thought it would be tangy. But much to my surprise, it was not. It was so delicious my tongue wanted more. I looked at the list of the other varieties and they had quite a lot. Dips, too. So I decided to get two for myself — Wasabi Dressing and Rosan.

In a week’s time, my Wasabi Dressing was gone — straight to my hungry stomach. I enjoyed every bite of my salad because of it.

The name of the dressings and dips business is La Comida Rica. It means “The good food,” and good food you will get. It is a home business started by two friends who are both graduates of Poveda, Rica Valdez and Vicky Limpo.

How did their business start? Rica and Vicky were reunited at a class reunion. At that time, Vicky had been working at a printing shop for 16 years but grew tired of it. Her husband suggested for her to team up with Rica and do something they both loved.

So La Comida Rica was born last July. Rica makes the dressings while Vicky does the dips. Before they got together, Vicky was already giving her spinach cheese as Christmas gifts and Rica, her Rosan dressing. When they got together, they just added some more.

I asked if they had plans of expanding their business but they said they would rather sell from the comforts of their homes or supply restaurants and join bazaars.

They initially joined the Carl Edwards Bazaar and did very well — yesterday and today at the NBC Tent.

Here’s the list of their dressings:

1. Oriental Dressing — an Asian-inspired dressing best served with tofu, bean sprouts, mangoes and any green-leafed vegetable including swamp cabbage and any other cabbage.

2. Rosan Dressing — a Thai-inspired dressing, best accompanied by mangoes, nuts and mixed greens. Also great as a side dip for fried fish.

3. Italian Dressing — extra virgin olive oil, mustard and colored peppers. It goes well with lettuce and arugula salad, tomatoes with basil and any green assortment.

4. Honey Poppy Dressing — a traditional American salad dressing.  Great with grilled chicken and as a side dip to chicken wings and fish sticks.

5. Kaffir Lime Dressing — fish sauce-based, best served with Vietnamese salads, pomelo and greens, pineapple and lettuce, watercress and mangoes, tofu and sprouts.

6. Wasabi Dressing — a true Japanese experience, great as a dressing or dip to tofu, cucumber, daikon, carrots with shisho leaves.  Great with fried chicken wings and baked fish.

7. Japanese Dressing — a sesame seed-based dressing for greens with sprouts and tofu. It can also be used as dipping sauce for shabu-shabu and can also be quite savory over hot udon.

8. Green Mango Dressing — a true Filipino traditional food, best served over steamed eggplant, okra, string beans, tomatoes, onions, pork crackling, salted eggs, anchovies and native longganisa on a bed of lettuce.

Among their dressings, my favorites are Wasabi, Japanese, Honey Poppy, Rosan and Kaffir Lime. I love the Wasabi Dressing on my salads. The Rosan is also good on my salads and as a side dip for fried fish. I put the Honey Poppy on top of my grilled chicken sandwich.

Among the dips, I love the Gourmet Cheese, Spinach Cheese and Tomato Garlic Dip. The Gourmet Cheese I’ve tried with bread and crackers. It is so good. The Tomato Garlic I’ve used as a pasta sauce. My children and I love it!

What can I say? I absolutely love their dressings and dips. Whatever your choice is, there is something for you from La Comida Rica.

Go and find out what your taste buds are looking for.

(You may call Rica at 0922-5884988, Vicky at 0922-4921829 or at their landline 473-1048. And if you will be at the NBC Tent today, La Comida Rica will be there. Check it out.)

(E-mail me at babyjackster@yahoo.com)