It can be a simple classic or a towering work of culinary art. The wedge salad offers a cool, crisp dish that's appreciated by steak lovers and vegetarians. Restaurant chefs craft signature salads for their dining rooms. Home chefs keep fresh lettuce in the fridge for building healthy family meals around crisp wedges.
Where did this unique salad come from? It's an interesting backstory to think about the next time you enjoy a traditional wedge with blue cheese dressing.
It Started in Ancient Egypt
The origins of iceberg lettuce and wedge salad history go back to ancient times. Food historians believe Egyptians were the first to cultivate lettuce. They developed the plant, grown for its oil-producing seeds, into a table food highly valued for its succulent leaves.
By the sixth century B.C., lettuce migrated to ancient Persia. The Greek and Roman empires broadened the plant's popularity and territory. New World expeditions brought lettuce to the Bahamas during the 1400s.
Here on our shores, European colonists planted hearty lettuce varieties developed in Holland. The vegetable thrived as part of our country's historic expansion from the Eastern Seaboard to the Pacific Coast.
Transportation Changed the Name
Lettuce held its own in our nation's fields, home kitchens and restaurants. The development of the railroad industry ensured its permanent place on tables and in pantries all across the country.
Rail transportation extended the reach of commercial growers by upgrading their shipping options. By the 1920s, Crisphead lettuce could be packed under mounds of ice and moved long distances without losing freshness. Renaming it "iceberg" lettuce was a natural transition.
One Recipe Changed the Game
No one can document exactly how or where the original wedge salad first graced a dining table. Food historians do agree on this general timeline.
• 1916 - Marion Harris Neil's cookbook, "Salads, Sandwiches and Chafing Dish Recipes," offered the first printed version of a recipe for iceberg wedge salad.
• 1920s - The wedge salad debuted in many restaurants, but no chef claimed it as his or her original.
• 1950s - Blue cheese crumbles and bacon bits topped the stylish, traditional wedges we still enjoy today.
• 1970s - After a decline in popularity, the wedge salad found a new home in steakhouse chains from coast to coast.
• 2000s - The development of new iceberg lettuce varieties, including Iceberg Babies®, helped maintain the wedge salad's renaissance as both a side and an entree.
Steakhouses Still Embrace Wedge Salads
The 1970s steakhouse romance with wedges continues today for good reason. It's still a favorite with dining room guests. The classic wedge salad with blue cheese won't ever lose its crunchy, flavorful appeal.
Most steakhouse chains put a signature touch on their wedge salads. Sullivan's tops its salad with a splash of red wine vinegar. A sweet balsamic glaze sets Outback's wedge apart from the competition.
Perry's elevates the simple salad into a culinary work of art. It's a dramatic blend of fine dining and wedge salads that's also very photogenic. That's a big plus for salad sharing on social media.
Wedge Salads Are Still Sensational
The modern wedge salad's basic design hasn't changed over the years. It's still an eye-catching presentation of crisp lettuce and enticing toppings. Not surprisingly, there are some things about the classic that continue to evolve.
For example, iceberg lettuce now shares the spotlight with alternative greens. Flavorful hearts of romaine are becoming the center of wedge salads crafted at home and in commercial kitchens. Fresh topping ideas for contemporary wedges range from artisan goat cheese to fresh berries.
Even dining etiquette guidelines acknowledge the stature of today's wedge. If you're not sure about how to eat a wedge salad without turning it into a chopped salad, the process is simple.
1. Yes, you do need both a knife and a fork.
2. Begin by securing the wedge center with your fork.
3. Slice a bite-sized piece from the tip nearest you.
4. Swish the bite in dressing, dab in toppings, and enjoy.
When dining etiquette recognizes the stature of a dish, you know it's destined to stay on the menu. The sensational wedge salad earns its place at our tables with striking presentation and sophisticated taste. That's enough to secure its place in food history for a very long time to come.
It's Part of Our History Too
The next time you sit down to enjoy a wedge salad, pause before taking that first bite. Consider how far it’s come since ancient times. Imagine its 200-year journey across our nation.
Hitchcock Farms stands tall as a part of that history. Our farming operations continue to maintain the traditions that sustained our founding families. We're always proud to serve you with the freshest premium produce available.
