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Celebrate Ken’s 60th anniversary in style by pouring some of this distinctive dressing on a fresh summer salad and savoring the moment.

In 1941, Ken and Florence Hanna opened Ken’s Steak House in Framingham, and their Italian dressing was a huge hit. Then, in 1958, Louise and Frank Crowley of Ken’s Foods, Inc., began to bottle and sell a similar product that to this day can be found on most supermarket shelves.

This salad dressing, familiar from my youth (when I drizzled it on a traditional salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, and lettuce), has never let me down. Whenever fancy marketing promotes the latest in regular, diet, low-, and no-fat dressings, I always think of good old no-gimmicks Ken’s. The distinctively oil-and-vinegary stand-by is especially irresistible when generously tossed with a more " modern " salad of romaine, arugula, sprouts, cucumbers, and avocado. Try it as a marinade on chicken or dunk bread into it. You can even drink up the excess juice at the bottom of the salad bowl, as I’ve done when no one was looking.

Available at most supermarkets for around $1.29 for an 8-ounce bottle. Also available in 16-ounce size.