I was recently at Frank's Steak House in Cambridge and they had a special on the menu, Wedge Salad. Needless to say I ordered because it has been a long time since I have had a wedge salad. With the blue cheese dressing and all the crumbles of fresh bacon how could it not be good. So I set out to duplicate it and I really think this recipe is better.

The key to this salad is fresh lettuce which you can get in the summer at your local farm stand. And you definitely should try your hand at making your own Blue Cheese Dressing and frying your own Crispy Fried Bacon. You'll be glad you did!

So next time you are barbecuing a steak and drinking a bottle of red wine, give this salad a try. It will more than hold its own and may even outshine the steak. And blue cheese is a natural sidekick to a great bottle of red wine. Give it a try and tell us how you change it to make it your own. Enjoy!

1.  Make your Blue Cheese Dressing and fry your bacon until it is nice and crispy.

2.  Prepare your lettuce wedge. You have several ways to do this. You can cut the head of lettuce in half and then make 3 equal wedges out of each half. Or you can cut the head in half and with the flat side down and the bottom toward you, cut at an angle down the right side so the slope goes outward. If you cut it in quarters, put the pointed side of the wedge facing up when you plate it. If you turn it on its side the open edge will be straight up and down.

3.  Spoon the dressing over the top of the lettuce wedge. You don't need too much dressing unless like me, you really like it!

4.  Sprinkle the crispy bacon crumbles over the top of the salad.

5.  Add some tomatoes for color. This is optional but does lighten it up a little.