As a kid, I fell in love with the ginger salad dressing at Benihana, partly because it was an interesting pink color but mostly because of the taste. I recently purchased a bottle of this Culinary Treasures ginger dressing after tasting it at my local Costco ($5.79/32 ounces) and found it light and flavorful. The ginger bite is offset with the tang of lemon and mellowed by a splash of soy sauce and toasted sesame seeds.
A peek at the label reveals more fat and calories than I expected (6 fat grams and 90 calories per serving), resulting in a Weight Watchers© Points Plus value of 2. However, the recommended serving of two tablespoons was excessive. One tablespoon adequately dressed my fairly large green salad, and I’m a girl who likes a lot of dressing. That’s a lot of flavor for 45 calories and 1 WW point.
This product is a natural dressing choice for oriental salads and green salads with fruit. It also makes a fabulous marinade for protein. I have used it to marinate grilled shrimp and baked chicken, both with delicious results.
You can never tell how long Costco might stock this dressing, and I haven’t seen it in other stores. I recommend picking up a bottle or two while it’s available, and you might just find yourself a new favorite salad dressing.
Note: I was not paid for this review or provided with a free sample bottle. Culinary Treasures is also marketed as La Maison.
UPDATE – JANUARY 2013
Great news, folks! This wonderful dressing is again in my local Costco! The packaging is a bit different, but the dressing is the same. Get yours NOW!
Life...With a Side of Sarcasm 
whre can i buy it in San Diego ,Ca
Can you purchase this dressing at AJ Foods in Arizona?
The company’s website offers a “contact us” page at http://www.bayvalleyfoods.com/edsmith/. There is a place at the bottom of the page where you can find out where to buy their products. Just input the product name; other helpful info is Item #513233 and UPC code 66019940014. Good luck in your search for this great dressing, and thanks for reading my blog!
Where can I buy it in CA besides Costco – since Costco’s out!?
cdr@cts.com
Charles
The Costco stores in Tucson and Phoenix have ample stock (hundreds) since Jan 2014 and it’s not selling well! How can they miss the target buyer so bad? They wont transfer store to store and they haven’t sensed the logic of making it available on line. Ask for Costco item number 513233 Culinary Treasures Lemon Ginger Sesame Dressing. We are driving from San Diego to Phoenix just to get it. Well NASCAR is a draw as well.
you can but it Amazon at 15.44 plus shipping for 1 32 oz bottle
Ouch!! $$$$
I've only seen it at Costco in my area, but it is manufactured by a company in Canada called E.D. Smith. You can find contact information at http://www.edsmith.com.
I love this but COSTCO no longer has it! I tried the Canadian web site (www.edsmith.com) but it’s not listed. Is this prpoduct only found at Costco?
That is the only place I have seen it in my area, but I would imagine the product is sold through other venues.
Just got an email from Smith foods and they said they make this dressing exclusively for Costco. They said it is sold to them in a rotation and as of right now none has been ordered by Costco.
Please go to your local Costco and ask them to order more.
Than you for that valuable information, Susan! It goes a long way in explaining why this great dressing is so difficult to find.
I did the same thing! And costco web site says they don’t have it?
I heard so much about the Organic Lemon Ginger Sesame Dressing & Marinadein my Thursday Networking group. Is it possible to receive a sample?
I notice other site visitors indicate COSTCO as a possible via merchant that has this product. I have not seen it in several COSTCO stores in my area.
At the time of my review, my local Costco carried this product. However, I have not seen it lately. Costco rotates its inventory frequently, so it may show up again in the future.
Our family too fell in love with this dressing. But it is no longer on the shelf at Costco!!! I asked and they told me it had been discontinued!!!!!! On the search now!
Call corporate office, 800-774-2678 and ask them to restock this item. I called my store in Tucson and was told they cannot reorder, but if customers ask corporate they will oblige.
On the bottle it gives the email address edsmith.com. On their site there is no information about where to purchase. I did go to the “contact us” section and wrote them a note asking where we could purchase either in a store or on-line. It is made by Bay Valley Foods. Keep your fingers crossed that we can find it!!
From E.D. Smith:
We are the manufacturer of the Culinary Treasures 32oz Organic Lemon Ginger Sesame Dressing specifically produced for Costco stores on a rotational basis. Unfortunately, we do not have a confirmation of any rotations in your area at this time. We do not sell our products directly to consumers.
Costco stores have asked that our consumers place a written request with their customer service desk if our products are not currently available. You may use the Costco website to make comments and/or request a permanent listing if you wish. https://www.costco.com/CustomerService/EmailUs.aspx?secure=1
Let’s all ask Costco to bring it back!!!!!!!!
Good job, Caroline! I, too, will contact Costco to request that they carry this great product.
E.D. Smith – forget Costco – your produce is great!! Market it on the web! I’ll order 12 bottle right now! and from the comment s I’m reading so does everyone else!
Please call me – my girlfriend luv’s the stuff!!!
My clr is: 619 885-6531
I help you market it here in the US??
Charles D. Richmond, Esq.
Surprise! Tonight went to Costco and they will not sell it any more. Can anybody tell me where else in Tucson can I buy it?
Costco in Albuquerque now carries Culinary Treasures Organic Raspberry dressing & marinade. Bought it but haven’t tried it yet. Love the lemon ginger so much.
I have written in the Costco comments box about this dressing twice now. I NEED this dressing to come back into my life! I think it’s so silly that they don’t sell this product to regular grocery stores. I miss this stuff so much!
Last time I had it was about November 2011. And that’s because I bought about 6 bottles when it was in stock. Haha. I’m prepared to buy 10 next time I see it. There is this really yummy greek-like salad I use this dressing for. It is amazing. My heart is broken, haha 😦
I bought a bottle of this at Costco some time back, and it is almost gone. I’m so crushed that they don’t have it anymore, but that’s Costco for you. With the billion or so salad dressings on the market you’d think we could find SOMETHING close to it, but not so.
Well, the joke’s on me. Went back to Costco for something I had forgotten with my Husband, and almost passed by a whole end cap display of the dressing! We grabbed several bottles, would have gotten more but the expiration dates are 2013. One thing about it though, it is a little oily. If you look at the separation, there’s a LOT of oil on top. No problem, just poor some of it off if you like less oil.
That’s great! I wonder if that means more Costcos will be carrying it again.
Maybe. Or the side of sarcasm would be that maybe they just found a pallet of it that didn’t expire yet and my store was the lucky one! I hope not though. It’s good stuff.
What?!?!?!?!?! Don’t get my hopes up! I hope they have it at my Costco! What area are you in? (If you don’t mind me asking) 🙂
I’m in Henderson, Nevada. For those that don’t know that’s like a suburb (although it’s bigger) of Las Vegas.
I bought it at the Costco in Scottsdale AZ and when I got back to Michigan I couldn’t find it at the Auburn hills store. This is my new favorite and I can’t find it any ideas of where I might find it in southeast MI?
BTW Lisa, Benihana salad dressing isn’t hard to make. There are versions you can get on the internet but it’s basically this:
1/2 cup onion, minced
1/2 cup peanut oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
2 tablespoons celery, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste or ketchup
4 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Some of the internet versions call for garlic, but I don’t think that is authentic for oriental dressing. I’m sure it’s the tomato paste or ketchup that makes it pink. I love this stuff! We used to eat at Benihana whenever we could afford it, but we found a little Japanese Restaurant called Fuji’s that is just like Benihana at half the price, but same recipes.
Thanks, Marta! I’ve seen variations of that recipe but never tried them. I can’t get past the ketchup, but I think you are right about that being the secret to the pink color. 🙂
where else can i purchase Culinary treasure organic lemon giinger sesame Dressing & Marinade, other than Costo?
It is made exclusively for Costco. Call 800-774-2678, corporate office and ask to have it restocked, I was told they are pretty good about complying. Your local Costco cannot reorder it, it has to come from corporate.
I saw where Amazon offers the dressing (same 32oz. bottle) for $15 plus postage. .what a ripoff. don’t need it THAT bad!
Costco
I would like to buy Culinary treasures sauce roasted garlic, where can we find?
Hi,
Could you please tell me which costco brought back the culinary treasures dressing?
Thank you
Hi Mona, it was my local Costco in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Lisa, mine is the Henderson NV area. But like everything else Costco does, they stop carrying things for months, then suddenly bring it back. Every time we go, we check for certain things to reappear. Sometimes they never do. but this dressing has reappeared several times. I still have a stock of it from my last grab, but they don’t have it again right now. It could be in any store at any time, you never know. Costco is always like an Easter Egg Hunt, and I think they like it that way.
I have search for this dressing/marinade for over one year now. And this morning before I throwing the empty bottle from this dressing I decided to goggle it for last time.
What a pleasant surprise, what I am not alone.
Thank you all, especially for the precipice, because it seems to me this is the only option left: do it yourselves.
The only thing I can add is that Costco has a very weird protocol to make it customers to browse the store: no information about location of the product available. Now perhaps they are taken the next step making their customers to look for something what do not exist.
Today I just purchased Culinary Treasures Lemon Ginger Sesame Dressing & Marinade with a use by Mar. 27, 2014 from COSTCO 3150 Fostoria Way,
Danville, CA 94526 (east of San Francisco – close to Concord, CA)
5-15-2013. After reading the comments I will have to stock up. Purchased it for the first time about a month ago – it is wonderful!
I love this dressing. I went to my local Costco (Phoenix, AZ) and asked when they expect another shipment since I’m almost through my final bottle. They told me that it’s a seasonal item and they usually expect it right after Christmas! WHAT?! She even went on to say that they marked it down to a little over $2 a bottle when they were trying to clear it out. I can’t believe I’m going to have to wait months before I can get this dressing again! I guess I’m going to have to stock up when it comes back in.
I am ALSO looking for the White balsamic citrus basil flavor of the Culinary Treasures brand. It is great!! Glad to hear I am not alone in the search for this brand. Costco is carrying a different flavor right now but not the one I want. I am trying to find out what other stores carry this brand in the Chicago area.
Just shook the last drops out of our bottle tonight. What are we going to do now? Sounds like Costco has dropped the brand. it’s a wonderful dressing and it will be missed at our house.
I bought two bottles at costco in Rancho Cucamonga early 2013 and we were told this would no longer be available! Is it back?
We also love Culinary Treasures White Balsamic Citrus, will try the web-site would take a case if I could get it. Not at our Costco, Bend Oregon.
How long can I marinade chicken, beef or lamb chops before putting it on the grill for BBQ?
please share some recipes using this wonderful dressing
No, it’s not back. I called the Costco in San Marcos today and they said Costco has discontinued carrying it. Based on what? BIG mistake!
I love this too…but OH NO!! My Costco here in ny has discontinued it :((
I am not alone! Its good to know there are other people searching for this amazing dressing!
🙂 My kids and I started eating salad EVERY day because of this dressing! Bought it at Costco in September 2013. Now I can’t find it anywhere. I did try one website that will sell it but when I went to check out it said “we only ship in Australia” Yipes! Well, that leaves me out! I shop at the Costco in Vista, CA. Sent them a request for more, lets all beg for it back! 🙂
I too love this dressing. Could not find it in any of the Costco in my area, (San Jose, Ca). I emailed Costco about it they said the people in the buying department buys according to how well the product sells. so please email Costo, the more email they get, just maybe they will bring it back.
I called corporate. 800-774-2678 and was told they would comply. Local stores cannot reorder it has to go through corporate.
I bought it at Costco here in New York and fell in love with it. It is simply delicious!!! I finished my supply and looked for it in 5 or 6 Costco stores in New York and New Jersey…not available…. I emailed Costco to see if they had plans to restock and got a canned response… I have since contacted the manufacturer to find somewhere else to obtain it (i’m hooked) only to find that they only make it for Costco on their specific request. I have emailed Costco on several occasions to request that they restock and received the same stock reply. I am now looking for recipes online until such time as I might find the product available. The Benihana recipe may be close but not the product I love.
I hope everybody asks Costco to restock as that seems the only opportunity. Who would think you have to beg a retailer to stock products that their customers love??
were can we buy this they don’t carry it at Costco in Austin TX anymore
Just found their White Balsamic Citrus Basil at my local Costco. This flavor is also yummy!!! Absolutely great with pastas, seafood as well as salads. Love, love, love the lemon ginger sesame.
Why is so hard to get these yummy dressing and marinade from Costco?
Looking to find the Culinary Treasures Dressing & Marinade in Maryland.
Costco as usually does not have it on the shelf again.
I did have a six month supply which is now gone.
Somebody please help me!
Thanks for all the comments, folks. My local Costco had one pallet of this dressing last month and quickly sold out. I was told by the store manager that he didn’t know when or if another shipment would be coming and he hadn’t known about that shipment until it arrived. Frustrating!
Costco it’s no longer carrying..Do you know of anywhere else?
my Costco in Richmond, CA doesn’t carry this. Where can I buy it – I live near Berkeley, CA (actually in El Cerrito, CA). Help, I need it by Saturday. Delicious!
I asked the Costco in Sacramento Ca if they would order it and they said they have discontinued it. I requested them to carry it again n they didn’t seem interested in my request😪
Costco has there head up there ass. Maybe some one could figureout that keeping this amazing lemon ginger sesame salad dressing in stock would give more profits and make the costomers happy
this is much too logical. I suspect that Culijnary Treasures has learned how the dressing is such in demand that they are holding out for a price hike and perhaps Costco is responding with “F k you”. as soon as the smoke clears I’m sure it will be resolved. Culinary has no other outlets. money is always the cause of a Corporate action….. either a price hike or Cosco will find another recipe like it… woe is me.
Costco in Northridge CA had it this month. Bought 6 bottles! As we know from the past, it comes and goes…
I too am very annoyed, bought a bottle of Lemon Ginger Sesame 3 weeks ago, yesterday it was now where to be found in Costco in Miami. I ate entire head of Romaine Lettuce, tomatoes, Mangoes, strawberry, sometimes with diced ham or hard salami, for 2 weeks, then the dressing finished….haven’t eaten a salad since. have no idea why Costco pulls this disappearing act of merchandise, on a regular basis. It’s getting tiresome. I need this dressing, must have this dressing. HELP! having withdrawal symptoms. LOL!
Millie B, Miami FL