I go through phases when it comes to cooking. I stopped buying bottled dressing 30 years ago. Sophisticate that I was, I thought making Good Seasons mix was "making my own," but it tasted the same every time. Duh. So I made blue cheese dressing, then Caesar dressing. And I still do, sometimes. But I have a huge salad bowl so I often just make a vinaigrette in the bowl, taste it, then add lettuces and whatever I have in the pantry or in the crisper. I gave up red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar (I never liked brown-colored dressing), the white balsamic (the Italians say it is not balsamic vinegar), and the fig, orange, and other flavored vinegars. Now I just use Sherry vinegar.

Unfortunately, I broke the only bottle of it I had when it crashed into the granite counter and onto the floor, looking like a geyser and smelling like, you know, vinegar. I went to every supermarket on the shoreline to replace it, but they no longer carry it. So I called Christine at Fromage. Just a 14-mile trip later I had a bottle, plus two bags of yummy burrata and a big loaf of bread to make panzanella for the third time that week. Thanks, Christine!

Sherry Vinegar

Fromage Fine Foods and Coffees • 860-388-5750

873 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook

www.fromagefinefoods.com