11:12 Oct 27, 2010 

I might have agreed with you before I read the Wiki entry on "Lettuce" (link in a post below). Now I know lettuce includes a wide range of edible, leafy plants, including Chinese varieties used in cooking. So I'm no wiser as to what specifically is being asked for in this query. Not that I'm disagreeing with you, I've just become very curious about this, maybe because it's time for lunch! ;-)

11:04 Oct 27, 2010 

However it need not just be lettuce: these salad leaves may include rocket, spinach, beet leaves, endive, Chinese leaf vegetables either on their own or combined with others. Without knowing what exactly they may be (and perhaps the chef just uses what's available on any given day), it's far safer to just say salad leaves.

10:54 Oct 27, 2010 

Hm, not sure I agree with that. Googling "Edelblattsalate" came up with variations, including "undressed" :-) versions, plus personal experience in German restaurants makes me question that it could only refer to fancy - as opposed to garden-variety -salads, rather than a lavish/sumptuous garnish. Here's just one example: "Brunch
…der kulinarische Mittag…
Kalte Spezialitäten
Salatbar mit Auswahl von frischen Edelblattsalaten, großer Beilagenbar und Dressings" In this case it's definitely not referring to a finished salad, but types of lettuce. (Heh, never thought I could get so involved in a discussion about salad vs. lettuce, lol!)

10:32 Oct 27, 2010 

I had the same thought at first, however, lettuce leaves for mere decorative purposes would not be mentioned on the menu. I guess we can assume that they are sprinkled with some kind of dressing.

10:20 Oct 27, 2010 

In the US the term "salad" is really only applied to the complete dish, if you can call it that, which includes dressing, etc., not the plant, which we call lettuce, and I'm not sure what is meant in this case - a true salad or just some decorative lettuce leaves? I have no idea what's used in UK for either, though. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salad and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lettuce

08:33 Oct 27, 2010 

Sowas schwebte mir auch vor.

08:17 Oct 27, 2010 

Ich denke, es sind hier einfach Salate gemeint, die etwas "edler" wirken, als z.B. einfacher Kopfsalat oder Eisbergsalat. Eichblattsalat, Lollo Bianco und Lollo Rosso, Frisée-Salat, Radicchio, Batavia oder Endivien könnten hier gemeint sein.