Is using bottled salad dressing appropriate when having guests for dinner?

I accept whatever you offer. That is the role of a good guest. I have no trouble with bottled salad dressing.

Pour the dressing in a creamer or gravy boat, add a teaspoon of any mustard and sprinkle with parsley and or scallions (green onions). There, you now have your version of the dressing!

It's about the presentation!

But, if you want to serve killer dressing, here is my base recipe that everyone loves...

Basic 1 2 3  Dressing

1 cup Mayonnoise (Hellman's is best)

2 teaspoons milk

(easy to remember... white ingredients first)

3 teaspoons red or balsamic vinegar

Serve as is, or you can add any single or combo of the below flavors :

Garlic powder to taste

Fresh or dried oregano, dill weed, tarragon

Lemon or Lime grated rind

Poppy seeds

Crumbled blue cheese

use your imagination

By the way, some of my all time favorite dressings are bottled! Zero shame in that, really!

Yes, that's fine. It's JUST dressing in a bottle, get a grip.

No you are not. Remember you can always pour bottled dressing into a serving dish. Also, vinaigrette is really easy to make. The recipe is:

½ cup oil¼ cup vinegar or citrus juice2 tsp. Dijon mustard or mayonnaise

Mix together the emulsifier (mustard or mayo) and the acid (vinegar,or lime/lemon juice). Slowly stream in the oil while whisking like mad. To this you can add raspberry jelly or almost any flavoring to make a custom homemade dressing. Do a couple of practice runs. You will be amazed at how easy it is.

BTW, if you use Guldens grainy mustard, you make a French favorite, Vinaigrette au mutard ancien.

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To be on the safe side, just make a simple dressing from some oil and vinegar, salt and pepper, pinch of sugar, and a little bit of Italian seasoning. And a squeeze of lemon. 

If you're self conscious about your dressing, just get a packet of dressing mix, and a fancy bottle to serve it in. 

You could get some recipes online?, a few ingredients in a lidded jar, a good shake and there you are.

Theres no shame in buying a ready made one though, its depends if you have all the 'elements' in your pantry?

Easiest trick when serving a bottled dressing? Pour it into a decanter and add just a few flakes of black pepper to the top-no one will know the difference, other than a Real chef. 

It's okay if you don't like their recipe. It's not okay to make it an issue. It's really not okay to bring your own dressing so don't do that.

Every cook is different.

My in-laws are Italian and they make the most amazing meat, seafood and pasta dishes but serve microwaved frozen vegetables even at Thanksgiving.

I personally make my own homemade salad dressing as it's very easy and tastes way better IMO.   It takes less than five minutes to blend a fresh lemon, egg yolk, clove of garlic, anchovy paste, Worcestershire and parm into a fabulous Caesar.   Same thing with a delicious ranch or vinaigrette.   I like to make dressings and sauces and dips...what can I say?  

But I would not at all be a snob about a bottled dressing if I were a guest in someone else's home especially if it were just a regular dinner and not a special occasion.   We all cut corners where it suits our preferences and abilities.