The Salad "Wedge" Phenomenon

[Silent1CB]

I would like to try one, but I don't like blue cheese or blue cheese dressing.

How do you eat this? Cut it all up on the small plate? Doesn't it get everywhere? Or just cut off one piece at a time?

 

[mhsjax]

I would like to try one, but I don't like blue cheese or blue cheese dressing.

How do you eat this? Cut it all up on the small plate? Doesn't it get everywhere? Or just cut off one piece at a time?

That's ok, alot of places will serve it with Thousand Island. And yes you just cut it with a knife and fork one piece at a time. Actually you can get whatever type of dressing you want, just most of the time it comes with either of these two.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

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

Hearts of Lettuce



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.

My DMIL rinses bagged chopped lettuce!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

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

I think it's been open for a hundred years and I bet it hasn't changed one bit! Love those particle wooden bowls for the salads!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Wedge salads and the grilled chicken breast on romaine leaves are NOT laziness on the part of the restaurant, it's called "presentation". Lots of things come to the table in whole form and need to be cut up, like little loaves of warm bread that people ooh and aah about. To say that it's lazy not to cut everything into bite sized pieces it kind of silly..certainly not worthy of not leaving a tip. The way we used to eat them was just to pour the dressing over the wedge, then using a knife and fork, cutting off a small corner. I don't remember cutting it all up at once and mixing it together like a tossed salad.

My problem with wedge salads is that they have no flavor. Iceberg lettuce is crunchy but it tastes like water. The romaine salad at Wolfgang Puck's express is whole romaine leaves on a plate-you have to cut that into bite sized pieces. Is WP lazy?

 

[Metsfan520]

I guess I'm strange--I love iceberg lettuce! Yes, I know it's just water, but I love it. I've learned to love other greens over time, but my all time favorite is iceberg. It's what I grew up with. My mom used to cut up the head of lettuce into bite size chunks--my baby sister called them 'crunchies'. She'd dress it with oil & red wine vinegar---still my favorite salad dressing now. I've never had that in a restaurant, but that's been a staple in steakhouses as long as I can remember. So it's not a new phenomenon at all.

 

[Wishing on a star]

You weren't served something you didn't order. You were served something that was prepared in a way you weren't expecting. There's a difference.

I disagree....

A 'wedge' and a Ceaser salad are two very different things.

I, too, would have been very confused if after anticipating some diced/shredded dark greens tossed with Ceaser dressing, croutons, etc... I got a wedge of iceberg lettuce.

In other words, don't serve me crock of hooie, and tell me it's air freshener!!!!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I guess I'm strange--I love iceberg lettuce! Yes, I know it's just water, but I love it. I've learned to love other greens over time, but my all time favorite is iceberg. It's what I grew up with. My mom used to cut up the head of lettuce into bite size chunks--my baby sister called them 'crunchies'. She'd dress it with oil & red wine vinegar---still my favorite salad dressing now. I've never had that in a restaurant, but that's been a staple in steakhouses as long as I can remember. So it's not a new phenomenon at all.

Wow, that brings back memories. That is what my mom used to do, too.

 

[si-am]

I disagree....

A 'wedge' and a Ceaser salad are two very different things.

I, too, would have been very confused if after anticipating some diced/shredded dark greens tossed with Ceaser dressing, croutons, etc... I got a wedge of iceberg lettuce.

In other words, don't serve me crock of hooie, and tell me it's air freshener!!!!

She didn't get a wedge. She got some romaine lettuce with chicken on top. Dressing and croutons on the side.

Sounds like a caesar to me.

 

[MAKmom]

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.

I think your correct


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

My DMIL rinses bagged chopped lettuce!

That seems wrong

I have never seen Orgainc Iceburg has anyone else?

 

[Metsfan520]

Wow, that brings back memories. That is what my mom used to do, too.

I'm trying to pass on the tradition. My nieces (the daughters of my baby sister) love iceberg salads like my mom used to make. They love other types of greens, but when I make them dinner, they request those!

 

[AftertheSunset]

The point is, they did not advertise it as a wedge salad, they advertised it as a Ceaser Salad. If they would have stated it was a wedge salad I would not have ordered it I wanted a pre-made ceaser salad that was advertised on the menu, period. And obviously, I am not the only one who would be upset to be served this as the manager stated he had heard numerous complaints about that particular item.

And I spent 15 years as a server, so I know first-hand what attitude is. The server acted as if we were bothering him by sitting at his table. My guest asked him a question about a fish and he rolled his eyes at us and said "how am I supposed to know that, I only work here, I didn't BUY the fish." All of this before our food even came. So I believe I was totally justified in his low tip.

Maybe next time you get served something you didn't order, you can just suck it up for the rest of us.

Next time I get served a salad I have to put the ingredients on myself, I will "suck it up", act like a grown adult, and eat the flippin' salad. Good grief, I have better things to worry/complain about than whether or not I have to put my salad together. Is this all you have to complain about in life? If I were you, I wouldn't have complained about putting the salad together, but about the $13 price tag. Who in their right mind pays $13 for lettuce?

 

[suzannen]

Since all of the fanciest restaurants and steak houses served the wedge when I was growing up, whenever I see it on a menu now, I get a little nostalgic. I order it with either the blue cheese or the thousand island dressing. Honestly, I eat so much salad each week and can only eat so much romaine and mesclun - so I think it's a nice change of pace. My DH, DD and MIL also love it.
And, it definitely has nothing to do with laziness on the part of the chef.

PS I've also recently noticed Steak Diane making a comeback on menus too - that was the "fancy" steak we'd usually order with the wedge!

 

[pixiewings71]

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

Yes, but I prefer mine w/feta and balsamic. Altho with blue cheese crumbles and balsamic it's really good too! Oh with ham instead of bacon.....YUM

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.

They don't do the wedge anymore at BB Breaks my heart, but just means I'll get a bowl of the gumbo instead.

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

I cut the lettuce into wedges and remove the outer layer, I then run the rest under water to wash it off.

The point is, they did not advertise it as a wedge salad, they advertised it as a Ceaser Salad. If they would have stated it was a wedge salad I would not have ordered it I wanted a pre-made ceaser salad that was advertised on the menu, period. And obviously, I am not the only one who would be upset to be served this as the manager stated he had heard numerous complaints about that particular item.

And I spent 15 years as a server, so I know first-hand what attitude is. The server acted as if we were bothering him by sitting at his table. My guest asked him a question about a fish and he rolled his eyes at us and said "how am I supposed to know that, I only work here, I didn't BUY the fish." All of this before our food even came. So I believe I was totally justified in his low tip.

Maybe next time you get served something you didn't order, you can just suck it up for the rest of us.

YIKES!!!! That is horrible service....altho I didn't doubt you I just wanted to say that with a comment like that I totally feel you on that tip!! I would have done the same thing!

Be sure to top with: red onions, bacon, blue cheese chunks, cherry tomatoes and balsamic dressing.

YES!!!! Someone else who likes them "my" way!

I would like to try one, but I don't like blue cheese or blue cheese dressing.

How do you eat this? Cut it all up on the small plate? Doesn't it get everywhere? Or just cut off one piece at a time?

So use the balsamic instead of the blue cheese, and use different cheese. I've used Ranch on a wedge for my girls and they love it! I've made it for them with feta or with mozzarella crumbles too, you can play with it a little to make it something you like. Even at a steak house DBF has asked for Ranch instead of Blue Cheese and it wasn't a problem.

I eat mine on a small plate, I use my knife to cut off pieces and eat it that way. It doesn't get everywhere for me.....

 

[Judy from Boise]

We have a local place that serves their wedge with a fabulous gorgonzola dressing (much like a blue cheese only more flavorful) with candied pecans, tomato, and bacon. I am a elitist normally for tossed salads.....no iceberg, but the wedge is delicious.

 

[itchin2go]

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

This cracks me up. All we ate growing up was iceberg and I've washed too many heads of iceberg lettuce to count! You turn it upside down and carve out the core. Then you run cold water into the bottom of the lettuce head for a bit. It will go all between the leaves. Then you turn it back over and let it drain out. Let it dry on the counter for a few minutes, and then do what you want with it.

I had not had a lettuce wedge in years, but I recently took a trip to Little Rock and had the pleasure of eating at the Capital Bar & Grill in the Capital Hotel. For some reason, the lettuce wedge just sounded good to me - refreshing, you know? It was described as "Wedge of iceberg with bacon, tomato and blue cheese dressing". Well, it was just delicious and really hit the spot. I generally don't eat meat, but tasted the bacon bits, well, chunks was more like it. Oh my goodness - heaven on a plate. The crispy, refreshing iceberg with the creamy blue cheese and then crunchy bacon chunks -- mmmmm. I went home and promptly tried to duplicate it, with kind of lackluster results.

Oh, well. If you're ever in Little Rock, do go to the Capital Hotel and try that salad.

http://capitalhotel.com/CBGwebsite/dining.html

 

[Pugsley]

Next time I get served a salad I have to put the ingredients on myself, I will "suck it up", act like a grown adult, and eat the flippin' salad. Good grief, I have better things to worry/complain about than whether or not I have to put my salad together. Is this all you have to complain about in life? If I were you, I wouldn't have complained about putting the salad together, but about the $13 price tag. Who in their right mind pays $13 for lettuce?

I know, right? And then to refuse to accept the free meal they offered because apparently it would be too traumatic to go back there and have to relive the horrifying experience of putting dressing, cheese & croutons on your own salad!! In all fairness to that poster, yes it sounds like the waiter was terrible, but being that upset about a salad seems a little bit much!