Philbys Fine Foods - About us

About Us and Testimonials

My tertiary qualifications and work experience are in food. I graduated from Ryde College of TAFE in Sydney with a Certificate in Catering as well as a Diploma in Hospitality Management. I worked for 3 years in chef positions as well as supervisory and assistant management positions in Sydney and Toronto, Canada before I bought my own takeaway shop where I eventually converted into a salad bar in Martin Place. Since then, my wife and I operated a takeaway salad bar in North Sydney.

I am extremely passionate about food. I love cooking and I love creating food products for those who love good quality home cooked food. The dressings are a testament to my passion and I gain enormous satisfaction in knowing that people have either enjoyed my cooking or my bottled dressing,

I had a very clear reason to bottle my own sauces and dressings. That is to lift an ordinary meal to an extraordinary level. Whether it to be to dress a salad, to marinate red or white meat for barbequing, or roasting chicken drumsticks, my aim is to give these meals a truly genuine restaurant quality edge.

In this current environment, we are very nutritionally conscious, we have a greater desire for lighter yet substantial meals, and due to busy life styles, we need our meals to be prepared at a faster rate than previous times.
For those reasons above, this is my opinion as to why salads have increased their popularity well into the 21st Century. When I was growing up in the 1970’s and early 80’s, my attitude towards salads was that of a bowl of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and perhaps one or two other types of vegetables  tossed in a simple vinaigrette dressing.  The salad was never a meal on its own, it always accompanied the main meal.
How times have changed! Today anything is possible with salads.  It all comes down to how creative we are. This is evident on the restaurant menus around the world. Deliciously marinated chicken pieces, with oven roasted vegetables combined with lettuce and/or pasta tossed in a dressing bursting with flavor and character are just some examples as to how salads, in this day and age, have become a meal on their own. 
I operated my own take away salad bar in the heart of Sydney’s CBD for many years before operating another take away salad bar in North Sydney. During that time, I witnessed more and more salad bars opening their doors not only in and around Sydney’s CBD and North Sydney, but in all pockets of Sydney meeting the demands of a clientele whose expectation of a salad has undergone huge changes over the last few decades.
To meet the demand of this emerging and developing dish newer and more interesting salad dressings are being introduced to the consumer via food retail outlets such as delicatessens and fruit and vegetable shops. I find it so interesting to view the many different kinds of bottled food products – salad dressings, marinades, and sauces whose aim is to lift the standard of an ordinary meal – giving that meal extra character.
Whether it is bottled salad dressings, bottled marinated capsicum, or interesting Australian native spices, I think we are pretty lucky in this day and age to have so many different types of foods available to us. We have the opportunity to purchase these and are free to create not only salads, but other amazing dishes in the comfort of our own homes for ourselves, family, and friends. More importantly, this can be a very economical alternative to dining out at restaurants. You can eat delicious meals – the type of meals that you would pay top dollar in an exclusive restaurant.
To me, eating is a part of our lifestyle and eating good quality and exciting food in a relaxing atmosphere is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Testimonials

Dear Phil,
Tried to phone you to thank you for the delicious sauce/dressing. Absolutely super! Excellent flavour and completely desirable consistency. It would be fantastic in so many applications.....I might even try some shortly on its own on a buttered rice biscuit. My mouth is watering even at the thought of it. You certainly know how to combine elements to produce an ideal flavour. Watch out Paul Newman!
Jennie and Bev have tasted it and concur wholeheartedly.

John F (Orange NSW)


Of course I would very much like to give a testimony of your product. We actually have used the Chilli version and it is yummy.

I have tasted and used the Moroccan Salad Dressing with Chilli and it is absolutely wonderful. It has a tangy flavour and is lovely on green salad. I have also used it in my couscous recipe and having the chilli flavour also gave this recipe a lovely taste, especially when I served it at our BBQ.

Maureeen and Jack W (Wellington NZ)

Hi there guys.
Just wanted to let you know that my son Russell and I are crazy about your salad dressings especially the "spicy" version.
We have tried all the commercial dressings available in the supermarkets but yours are really something special. We also like the fact that they are not loaded with preservatives.
Keep up the great work and please keep us on your mailing list for new products.

Allan
Bondi NSW