Trunks of Red Leaf

Observation is important. Sometimes mindless repetitive tasks may present the opportunity to become aware of things that have always existed. In cleaning red leaf lettuce for this evening's dinner I was left with two lettuce hearts. I suppose they are more like stalks or trunks, though putting names aside, we were left facing an interesting new ingredient. The lettuce trunks have a solid nature to them,on the other hand, they do not come across as tough. They may be braised or shaved thin or perhaps pickled as a unique component to a dish. The meaty nature of these trunks leads me to imagine featuring them in their full form, perhaps paired with sweetbreads or seared foie gras. We are excited about the possibilities for this previously binned element. Now we must explore the paths it will lead us down.