A Brief History

In the mid-1940s, Vivienne® Romano Cheese Dressing was born. Vivian Uyeda Tucker Reisinger crafted the original handmade recipe when her father, Tom Uyeda, newly appointed General Manager of the Bogey Club in St. Louis, asked her to create the new “house” dressing for the club. For several years, members begged to share it beyond the clubhouse walls so they could enjoy it at home. So, with much fanfare, Vivian brought Vivienne^® Romano Cheese Dressing to market in 1948 with the help of her favorite, next-door family market, Straub’s Fine Grocers, founded in 1901 and still going strong today!

The Full Story

In his long hospitality career, Mr. Tom Uyeda held leadership roles at St. Louis Country Club, Bridlespur Hunt Club, and The Bogey Club, followed by a long career with his own restaurants, including The Frontier Room, located on Kingshighway across from Forest Park. With Vivienne® Dressing featured as the “house dressing,” The Frontier Room became an acclaimed dining and entertainment establishment. The Frontier Room menu was an eclectic array of American and Cantonese dishes, from Tom’s Special Charcoal-Broiled Sirloin Steak, Broiled Chicken, and Lake Superior White Fish to Egg Roll, Barbecue Pork Strips, and Chicken Chow Mein.

After the deaths of Mr. Uyeda and Al Tucker, Vivian’s first husband, in the late 1950s, Vivian retired from the restaurant business at The Frontier Room upon her remarriage to Walter Reisinger. After 40 years in business, Vivian chose to cease commercial operations in 1968, retain the recipe, and pray that the next generation would revive the beloved dressing.

In the mid-1940s, Vivienne® Romano Cheese Dressing was born. Vivian Uyeda Tucker Reisinger crafted the original handmade recipe when her father, Tom Uyeda, newly appointed General Manager of the Bogey Club in St. Louis, asked her to create the new “house” dressing for the club. For several years, members begged to share it beyond the clubhouse walls so they could enjoy it at home.

So, with much fanfare, Vivian brought Vivienne^® Romano Cheese Dressing to market in 1948 with the help of her favorite, next-door family market, Straub’s Fine Grocers, founded in 1901 and still going strong today.

In May 1992, with the return to St. Louis of Vivian’s eldest son, Tom Tucker, Vivienne^® Romano Cheese Dressing was “Back By Popular Demand”, when its original store, Straub’s in Clayton, took delivery of the first batch of dressing in almost 25 years!

In 2012, Tom Tucker transitioned the business to Vivian’s youngest son, Buddy Reisinger. Together with his wife Jeana and their children Lily, Bear, and Lizzy, Buddy Reisinger continues the family tradition of producing a gourmet product for those who usually make their own dressing.

Today, Vivienne^® Romano Cheese Dressing is still available at Straub’s Market and online at www.vivienne.com..

Come taste the dressing that is craved by finicky toddlers, demanding gourmets, and everyone in between.  Whether you dress your salad, marinate your meat or seafood, or drink it straight from the bottle (Yep! We get the letters and emails, folks!), you’ll agree...“The Flavor is Fabulous!”®