i make a salad with every meal that i prepare for my clients. when was the last time you made one? i think the key to any good . . . no actually, great salad, is washing the lettuce. and to never, ever, buy salad "kits"... ever. truthfully, i don't even enjoy salads out, not even at really nice restaurants. the lettuce is never crisp. anyway, so this brings me to my point. i am a huge fan of romaine. i make salads with it often. what i like to do is take the outer leaves off, cut the top and bottom of the head and discard. keeping the head in tact, i make about 1/2 inch slices, toss them into the spinner and wash the lettuce under very cold water. i do this with most of the vegetables i am using, excluding a few (mushrooms, tomatoes, onions...)i think it shocks the cut ends and creates for a very crisp bite. i use a salad spinner to dry the lettuce. an item every kitchen should have, by the way.
