Our Story

It was 1987 when Mary & Ernie first opened Boccalino Grotto restaurant in the small, Rocky Mountain town of Canmore, Alberta. They set out to produce great meals at reasonable prices. Each member of the family worked hard to achieve that goal, including their two young sons who helped out by standing atop milk crates to wash dishes. Ernie’s cooking expertise, supported by his family’s help, led to the restaurant being a huge success with customers and food critics alike. Scores of ravenous people arrived each day to fill their bellies with delicious food after a long day of hiking on the local trails. Visitors particularly loved Ernie’s house dressing, a flavor that food critics have described as, “tangy, sophisticated, and addictive.”

It wasn’t long before Mary & Ernie were washing out wine bottles to fill with dressing and send home with customers. Eventually the demand for the dressing outpaced the speed at which customers could drink the wine, and a new business was born. A unique square bottle was found and it soon appeared on local grocery shelves. In 2011 Boccalino dressings have gotten a facelift. A refinement of the classic bottle, this new shape is sleeker and comes in a smaller, more convenient format.

Today Boccalino Dressings can be found in Produce Departments of Grocery stores all over western Canada.