>Kathryn, chicory is a bit bitter, but very addictive. While
>chicory may be an acquired taste, escarole is love at first
>bite. If you haven't tried escarole, give it a try. I just
>love it.
I'm not sure if I'd like chicory, then. I'm not too fond of the bitter stuff (is it radaccio that is kind of red/purple, like red cabbage color, and bitter? I can only take so much of that).
I think I've tried escarole, though I couldn't ID it on its own. I get a lot of those "mesclun" mixes and "baby lettuce" mixes, and it's sure to be in there.
I actually like the fibrousness (fibrosity? fibrocitudinousness? ) of romaine, though I've never really thought of it like that. I like to use torn romaine as a bed for mock "chicken-or-the-egg" (tempeh) salad, or bean salad, so maybe it compliments the fiber in the other ingredients well?
Last time I went to a restaurant with a salad bar, I was highly tempted to grab the kale they used as "decoration" under the bowls. It looked much better than the mostly-iceberg-lettuce-with-some-token-pieces-of-red-cabbage-and-carrot salad. But I was wary abou its cleanliness.