The Salad "Wedge" Phenomenon

[princesspiglet]

Just curious, did you ask for anything special when you ordered the salad ... like the dressing on the side? My guess is that many people will order a chicken salad at a steak house in order to have a calorie-light meal. Serving the items in little bowls allows those watching their calorie intake to add as much dressing or cheese as they would like v/s the regularly dressing laden Caesar. I wouldn't have minded putting together my own salad, but I would have ordered red meat at a steak house to begin with!

Oh, and I love lettuce wedges. There is something about the *crunch* of a wedge of iceburg lettuce that really appeals to me and I don't usually eat iceburg .

Nope, just asked for the salad on the menu which stated; "Hearts of Romaine Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons". So I was expecting the hearts of romaine, but I wasn't expecting to have to put it together myself! And beleive me, I would have ordered red meat, but M&S is a seafood resturant, and I hate seafood! This was one of the only things on the lunch menu that didn't have some type of seafood in it! I thought I was playing it safe

 

[robinb]

Nope, just asked for the salad on the menu which stated; "Hearts of Romaine Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons". So I was expecting the hearts of romaine, but I wasn't expecting to have to put it together myself! And beleive me, I would have ordered red meat, but M&S is a seafood resturant, and I hate seafood! This was one of the only things on the lunch menu that didn't have some type of seafood in it! I thought I was playing it safe

Well heck. I thought it was a steakhouse . I guess I'm thinking of another place with two names.

 

[pixiewings71]

This is a pet peeve of mine. I recently went to McCormick & Schmidts for lunch and ordered a grilled chicken caeser salad. It came out with 2 full leaves of romaine lettuce and a whole grilled chicken breast on top of the lettuce. Dressing, croutons and parm cheese were all in little cups on the side. I paid $13 for this freaking salad and you want me to make it???

I have no problem speaking up, so I ask my waiter what I was supposed to do with this salad and he said, "we allow our customers to put their salads together so they can best accomodate themselves". I laughed and said, "that's a bunch of crock-your just too lazy to put it together yourself."

I did take the darn salad and make it myself though. I complained to the manager on the way out and he stated that he has heard this from others and will my suggestions it into consideration. He then gave me a coupon for a free dinner, which I will not be using!

LOL I'd be happy to take that off your hands. LOL Sorry you were disappointed in your salad, I think I would be too, especially for a Cesear salad.....that's just weird....and yes, lazy.

I love Wedge salads...I like to have mine w/some thin sliced red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese and a good balsamic dressing....YUM!!!!

 

[Rafiki31]

I have never had a wedge salad, but leaving a crappy tip is really mean, you know the waiter doesnt make the menu right?

 

[mhsjax]

Yuck. Iceburg lettuce is awful (no flavor) and to have it by itself, with no other accompaniments besides dressing is just wrong. I would never order it.

I love a wedge salad with a big glob of thousand island. YUMMY. I would order it every chance I got.

 

[Silent1CB]

Yuck. Iceburg lettuce is awful (no flavor) and to have it by itself, with no other accompaniments besides dressing is just wrong. I would never order it.

I've never been served a wedge salad anywhere. So its JUST a wedge of lettuce & dressing and NOTHING ELSE? Ick!!

How much are they charging for that?

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

The most common way to serve a wedge salad is the wedge of iceberg, sliced tomato, blue cheese, bacon, and blue cheese dressing.

 

[Disney Doll]

The most common way to serve a wedge salad is the wedge of iceberg, sliced tomato, blue cheese, bacon, and blue cheese dressing.

Love this!!!!!!!!!
There is a little place near my house that serves this and it is just perfect.....

 

[Bluestars]

The Blue Bayou at Disneyland serves a wedge salad. At least it did the last time I went there. It was good, but I prefer a mixed salad.

 

[kafitty]

This is nothing new. I was eating this when I was kid fighting off the dinosaurs.

i've never understood it...it's just a trendy thing to me, i guess. i had no idea it had roots in the 60s & 70s!

 

[Shyvioletisme]

Yuck. Iceburg lettuce is awful (no flavor) and to have it by itself, with no other accompaniments besides dressing is just wrong. I would never order it.

I agree. iceberg lettuce is yucky...

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I love wedge salads -- definitely my favorite. I make them at home all the time.

I like the contrast -- the savory dressing (blue cheese w/bacon) vs, the cool crunchy sweetness of the wedge.

Iceberg cut up with the same dressing and toppings would do nothing for me.

 

[asktriplets]

so how does the lettuce get washed?????

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

so how does the lettuce get washed?????

How does the lettuce get dirty?

I rinse it off to remove any pesticides, but other than that I figure it's like an apple -- I remove the part on the outside (the outer leaves instead of the peel) and then assume that the inside is clean. I do rinse it quickly, but that's it.

 

[Diznygrl]

The first and only wedge salad I've ever had was at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland. I had never seen one before, and I don't believe the menu has it listed as a 'wedge' salad, so when they put the plate in front of me I was confused, to say the least. I thought it was some kind of weird budget cutback or something. But then later I started seeing and reading about how these "wedge" salads are pretty mainstream. So I guess Disney wasn't being cheap, they were being CHIC!

I thought it was okay and I definitely wouldn't turn up my nose at it if one was put in front of me again, but I prefer my salad to be cut up and mixed.

 

[Cindy B]

This is a pet peeve of mine. I recently went to McCormick & Schmidts for lunch and ordered a grilled chicken caeser salad. It came out with 2 full leaves of romaine lettuce and a whole grilled chicken breast on top of the lettuce. Dressing, croutons and parm cheese were all in little cups on the side. I paid $13 for this freaking salad and you want me to make it???

I have no problem speaking up, so I ask my waiter what I was supposed to do with this salad and he said, "we allow our customers to put their salads together so they can best accomodate themselves". I laughed and said, "that's a bunch of crock-your just too lazy to put it together yourself."

I did take the darn salad and make it myself though. I complained to the manager on the way out and he stated that he has heard this from others and will my suggestions it into consideration. He then gave me a coupon for a free dinner, which I will not be using!

I've seen this at McCormick and Schmicks too. I personally don't mind it. I do like to control the dressing and croutons because most places put way too much on. I do agree it should say something in the menu that it is "self-serve"

And hey-- if you want that coupon off your hands, I'd be glad to take it!

 

[MAKmom]

I've noticed more restaurants now offer a "wedge" salad. Instead of a chopped, tossed salad, they bring out about a 1/3 head of lettuce with some dressing on it. What's up with that?

My guess is that because they don't chop/toss the lettuce that it stays fresh longer, and of course it saves labor.

DW orders these sometimes and I'm always tempted to say "hey, you forgot to make a SALAD from the lettuce."

What's next? A whole fried potato from which you can cut your own french fries?

I was a waitress when I was in High School in the early 80's & we called it

Hearts of Lettuce

How does the lettuce get dirty?

I rinse it off to remove any pesticides, but other than that I figure it's like an apple -- I remove the part on the outside (the outer leaves instead of the peel) and then assume that the inside is clean. I do rinse it quickly, but that's it.

I did not know rinsing it helps to remove pesticides

Lettuce
Buy organic?
Yes. They’re ground-huggers that bulk up on pesticide-laden water. They have the third highest pesticide load of any vegetables, according to Environmental Working Group.
Cut your risk:
With its bumpy leaves, lettuce is notoriously hard to wash. But it is worth rinsing it under running water to remove any pesticide you can. Removing the outer layers of iceberg lettuce may also somewhat reduce your exposure.

 

[MIGrandma]

I had a wedge salad once, a few years ago on a cruise.

I wasn't impressed. I wouldn't order one in a restaurant.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I haven't had one of these, but I have seen them on menus and in magazines etc...

How do you eat this???? It seems like you would have to cut it up like a regular salad anyway to eat it politely???

 

[ogreenlee]

A wedge salad should only be served with exceptional blue cheese dressing. This salad, if done right, compliments a nice filet mignon.

It's not meant to be cheap, but to highlight the dressing.



Also.. FYI.. I've eaten at Charlie's Steakhouse in Greenville! LOL