Mesclun

Mesclun () is a mix of assorted small young salad greens that originated in Provence, France. The traditional mix includes chervil, arugula, leafy lettuces and endive, while the term ''mesclun'' may also refer to a blend that might include some or all of these four and baby spinach, collard greens, Swiss chard (silver beet), mustard greens, dandelion greens, frisée, mizuna, mâche (lamb's lettuce), radicchio, sorrel, or other fresh leaf vegetables.

Origins

On July 10, 1924, in Paris, Philippe Tiranty and Paul Gordeaux, reunited with many friends at the Cochon d'Or (a famous restaurant in La Villette), decided to create the foyer des Amitiés niçoises, and to call it Lou Mesclun, as his stele reproduced below reminds us. For these comedians and humanists, this expression meant “real living together”.

The term ''mesclun'' for a mixture of young salad greens is quite recent, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary first used in 1976. Of Provençal dialect origin, it derives from the verb ''mesclar'', to "mix thoroughly" and literally means "mixture". According to local lore, mesclun originated with the farmers around Nice, who would each bring their own unique and prized mix of baby greens to the farmers' markets. One of the most representative and authentic versions combined baby dandelion, lettuce and rocket (arugula).

Noted chef Alice Waters comments, "Outdoor markets in Provence display ''mesclun'' in profusion, a ''melange'' of the first tender young leaves which appear in the garden. ''Mesclun ''can be an extraordinary lettuce mixture: rocket, much like the rugola (arugula) found in Italian markets, chervil, mâche or lamb's lettuce and oak leaf. On occasion, baby curly endive (chicory) or young dandelion greens find their way into the medley, depending solely upon the grower's personal preferences combined with the reality of whatever else might send up shoots in the spot where ''mesclun'' grows."

Spring mix

In the North American foodservice industry, the first appearance of ''mesclun'' traces to restaurants and farm stands in the early 1980s, with a rise in popularity since. A ''mesclun mix'' can be described as comprising baby leaves of lettuces and other greens (and often herbs) in a wide range of leaf shapes, colors, textures and tastes. While the overwhelming amount of mesclun sold approximates the traditional blend of chervil, arugula, leafy lettuces and endive, depending on the season, anywhere from a dozen to three dozen different varieties of baby greens, including red and green oak leaves, romaine and lolla rossa lettuces, frisée, tatsoi, bok choy (joi choi), arugula, spinach, orach, mizuna, dandelion, mustard greens and garden cress may compose what is commercially referred to as a "spring mix". When available, locally grown, direct-from-the-farmer sourcing is recommended over commercial bulk packs for best flavor and freshness.

See also

* List of salads

References

{{Salads

Salads
Cuisine of Provence
French cuisine