Fatty Bistro Salad

This salad is meant to be as piquant and tangy as it is rich and fatty. Batavia lettuce varieties are the best choice here. Available in an array of colors, they are a head lettuce but with loose, frilly leaves and a little more tooth than butter lettuce. The heads have a dense core, and the leaves have enough body to stand up to an emulsified dressing and rich strands of Gruyère cheese. Make sure to use plenty of cheese and black pepper, to pile the salad high, and to dress it with care. P