A St. Louis Tradition.
A National Fan Club.
A Brief History
Vivian Uyeda Tucker Reisinger crafted the original handmade recipe when her father, Tom Uyeda, General Manager of the Bogey Club in St. Louis, asked her to create the new “house” dressing. For years, members begged to share it beyond the clubhouse walls so they could enjoy it at home. In 1948, Vivian bottled and brought Vivienne® Romano Cheese Dressing to her favorite market next door, Straub’s Fine Grocers, where it is still sold today!
The Full Story
Tom Tetsusaboro Uyeda left Japan for the US in 1904 to pursue his dream as a professional baseball player. He accomplished this, met the love of his life, and pursued a career that deeply resonated with him and Japanese culture: hospitality. Tom brought Omotenashi—wholehearted service, meticulous attention to detail, relentless respect—to the St. Louis scene and made lasting impressions.
In 1922, Vivian Uyeda was born. As the only child of the General Manager of St. Louis Country Club, The Bridlespur Club, and eventually The Bogey Club, Vivian admired and assisted her father from the start. Tom understood it was in her blood, too.
Years later, having grown up on cuisine from far East and West, Tom tasked Vivian’s discerning palate with creating the new house dressing for The Bogey Club. The same Romano cheese recipe made Tom, thousands of others, and maybe even you smile ever since.
Vivienne® Romano Cheese Dressing starred at The Frontier Room throughout the 1950s until her father and husband, Al Tucker, both founding members of the restaurant, suddenly passed. Vivian chose to cease commercial operations in 1968, retain the recipe, and pray that the next generation would revive the beloved dressing.
In 1992, Vivian’s eldest son, Tom Tucker, returned to St. Louis with plans to bring the dressing back. Straub’s 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, they continue the family tradition in St. Louis.
