Did you know that the word “lettuce” comes from the Latin lactuca, meaning “milky,” because of its white sap? The ancient Romans used it as a sleep aid. Ironically, a crisp lettuce wedge with blue cheese dressing is the opposite of sleepy—it’s a party.
In the Middle East, they wrap dolma in parboiled grape leaves, but they often use crunchy romaine for fresh herb salads called fatoush. The key? They fry their own pita chips for texture. The lettuce is the canvas; the crunch is the art.
