Boston Bibb Lettuce
Estimated Inventory, 24 ct : 58.37
This item was last sold on : 12/22/24
Description/Taste
Bibb lettuce is a medium to large-sized variety that measures about 10 to 15 centimeters wide. It has a round shape with loose, wavy, cupped leaves that have a slightly shriveled appearance and a thin, soft texture. The broad, soft outer leaves are loose and frilled at the edges, displaying a grassy green hue that transitions to white at the stem of the vegetable. The inner leaves at the center of the lettuce head are more tightly bound and exhibit a yellow-green color. Together, these leaves form a rosette pattern and have a smooth, silky consistency and uniform crunch. Bibb lettuce is tender and crisp with a mildly nutty, buttery, and sweet flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Bibb lettuce is available year-round, with a peak season from summer to fall.
Current Facts
Bibb lettuce is botanically classified as Lactuca sativa and is an annual variety belonging to the Asteraceae family, which also includes dahlias, marigolds, and chrysanthemums. It’s also called Limestone lettuce due to its ability to cultivate in limestone-rich soils. Bibb lettuce is frequently referred to as Boston lettuce. Both varieties belong to the butter lettuce group, which includes several types of pale green, sweet, loose-headed lettuces that differ slightly in appearance and size. Some sources distinguish Bibb and Boston lettuce as separate varieties, while other sources use the term interchangeably. Those who claim the two as different types state that Bibb lettuce is typically smaller, more narrow, and slightly darker in color than Boston. Bibb lettuce is easily sown in greenhouses as well as in home gardens. It's complementarily planted alongside beets, cabbages, carrots, onions, radishes, and strawberries. Bibb lettuce is primarily valued as a culinary plant that’s known for its compact rosette-shaped head and large, easily separated leaves.
Nutritional Value
Bibb lettuce is high in vitamin A, supporting healthy vision, skin, and immune function. It also has vitamin K-1, a nutrient essential for blood clotting and preventing bone-related disorders. This vegetable contains vitamin C to enhance immune defenses and promote collagen production for improved skin health. The folate in Bibb lettuce plays a crucial role in DNA synthesis and cell division, making it important for pregnant women and overall cellular health. Its calcium and potassium content contributes to strong teeth and helps regulate blood pressure, muscle function, and fluid balance. Phosphorus in Bibb lettuce supports healthy bones and energy production, while its magnesium is vital for nerve function, muscle relaxation, and maintaining steady heart rhythms. The lettuce's manganese aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and cholesterol. Bibb lettuce is also a source of selenium and zinc which support thyroid health, immune response, DNA synthesis, and wound healing.
Applications
Bibb lettuce is suited for both raw and cooked applications like braising, boiling, roasting, and frying. It's frequently used in salads, particularly when paired with bolder ingredients like blue cheese, pecans, marinated steak, and roasted mushrooms. This variety is also commonly layered into sandwiches or used as a wrap for tuna, chicken salad, or spring rolls. Bibb lettuce can be chopped into a taco salad with tortilla chips, pinto beans, cotija cheese, ground beef, sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole, and creamy cilantro dressing. It may take on earthier flavors when slowly braised or added to a bowl of simmering soup. This variety develops a caramelized flavor when sautéed with butter, rich meats, and chicken stock. Bibb lettuce pairs well with citrus, tomatoes, radishes, chiles, fried and soft-boiled eggs, goat cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese, sheep cheese, champagne and balsamic vinegar, cream-based dressings such as yogurt or buttermilk, dried fruits, apples, pears, melon, roasted chicken, bacon, shellfish, smoked trout, basil, cilantro, and dill. This vegetable will keep for about a week when stored in the crisper drawer of a refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The historic Bibb-Burnley House in Frankfort, Kentucky, was home to the inventor of Bibb lettuce. This estate, which was also known as Gray Gables, was built by Major John Bibb in 1857. Aside from his status as a soldier and senator, Bibb was a horticulturist who created a new lettuce variety from his limestone soil garden on the banks of the Kentucky River. He began sharing seeds of this Bibb lettuce with friends and neighbors who stopped by the Bibb-Burnley House. Among those who tasted it was a young girl named Viola Genewein, who was so impressed by the lettuce that she begged her greenhouse-owning father William Genewein to try it. He then met with Major Bibb to exchange a bottle of bourbon for these lettuce seeds. Soon, the Genenwein Greenhouse started producing an abundance of Bibb lettuce, quickly monopolizing the variety and cementing it as a staple at Kentucky Derby celebrations.
Geography/History
Bibb lettuce was developed in Frankfort, Kentucky, in the 1860s. It is a descendant of butter lettuce, which originated in the Mediterranean and became a widely used variety in Europe by the late 16th century. Bibb lettuce prefers full sun exposure and grows best in cool weather but can also flourish in hot climates when shaded. It’s commercially harvested on a large scale but cannot be found in the wild as it is a cultivated variety. Bibb lettuce was primarily consumed in Kentucky until the 1920s when heirloom varieties with soft, melty textures and sweet flavors gained popularity. In the 1940s, it was introduced to the upscale Chicago restaurant scene and became widely available to the public by the 1960s. The popularity of Bibb lettuce declined during the 1970s because its delicate texture made it challenging to ship and prone to wilting when left out for hours at salad bars, paving the way for hardier types of lettuce. By the 1980s this variety was brought back into the public consciousness when the rise of hydroponic gardening made it easier to produce. Today, Bibb lettuce is widely found at supermarkets, farmers' markets, and specialty grocers throughout the United States and Europe.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| InterContinental San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
| The Crossings | Carlsbad CA | 760-444-1800 |
| Rubicon Deli-UTC | San Diego CA | 858-877-9911 |
| Wine Vault & Bistro | San Diego CA | 619-295-3939 |
| The Cottage Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 858-454-8409 |
| Artifact at Mingei | San Diego CA | 619-846-2164 |
| La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen | Carlsbad CA | 760-930-7063 |
| Third Corner Ocean Beach | San Diego CA | 619-223-2700 |
| Half Door Brewing | San Diego CA | 619-655-7459 |
| Sugar Bear Enterprises | San Diego CA | 925-383-3623 |
| Bleu Boheme | San Diego CA | 619-255-4167 |
| 31ThirtyOne by Deckman | San Diego CA | 619-495-9814 |
| Uptown Tavern | San Diego CA | 619-683-9322 |
| Bar Majorette | San Diego CA | 619-323-8471 |
| Il Giardino di Lilli | La Jolla CA | 619-467-9897 |
| La Valle Coastal Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5473 |
| Craft House Fashion Valley | San Diego CA | 619-948-4458 |
| The Britannia Tearooms | San Diego CA | 619-683-2748 |
| Knotty Barrel- Rancho | San Diego CA | 858-484-8758 |
| Shorehouse Kitchen | La Jolla CA | 858-459-3300 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| Portside Pier (TopSail) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Shorehouse Kitchen Carlsbad | Carlsbad CA | 858-663-9916 |
| Pure Meal Prep SD | San Diego CA | 209-485-4861 |
| Omni Hotels | San Diego CA | 619-231-6664 |
| The Guild Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-764-5108 |
| A & M catering | San Diego CA | 206-802-8320 |
| Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
| Portside Pier (Brigantine) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Bar Same Same (Kitchen) | Carlsbad CA | 760-470-9143 |
| Marriott Gaslamp | San Diego CA | 619-696-0234 x6051 |
| Ketch Grill and Taps | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Panama 66 | San Diego CA | 619-206-6352 |
| Palmys | San Diego CA | 858-886-7111 |
| The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza | Oceanside CA | 760-310-1535 |
| Claire's on Cedros - SKSB | Solana Beach CA | 858-259-8597 |
| The Butchery | San Diego CA | 858-345-1524 |
| Pacific Coast Spirits | Oceanside CA | 925-381-5392 |
| Craft House Sky Deck | San Diego CA | 619-948-4458 |
| O'Brien's Pub | San Diego CA | 858-715-1745 |
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| The Loma Club | San Diego CA | 619-222-4653 |
| Kingfisher | San Diego CA | 619-861-8074 |
| Farmer and The Seahorse | San Diego CA | 619-302-3682 |
| Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-1582 |
| The Haven (Pizzeria) | San Diego CA | 619-964-3778 |
| InterContinental Vistal Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
| Portside Pier (Ketch Tasting Deck) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Pitchers | San Diego CA | 858-472-1251 |
| Donna Jean | San Diego CA | 619-299-5500 |
| Nate's Garden Grill | San Diego CA | 619-607-0117 |
| Crown Point Catering | San Diego CA | 619-223-1211 |
| Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Banquet | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| Firefly Beach | San Diego CA | 619-222-6440 |
| Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
| Tap Room Beer Co. | San Diego CA | 619-539-7738 |
| The Cottage Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-775-1197 |
| Brigantine Poway | Poway CA | 858-486-3066 |
| Claytons Bakery & Bistro | Coronado CA | 619-435-5425 |
| Kitchens For Good | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
| Pacific Regent La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-597-8008 |
| Mille Fleurs | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-3085 |
| Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
| The Plot Restaurant (Costa Mesa) | Costa Mesa CA | 714-852-3181 |
| The Lab Restaurant | Oceanside CA | 619-861-8299 |
| Secret Sister | San Diego CA | 619-281-0718 |
| Brigantine Escondido | Escondido CA | 760-743-4718 |
| The Switchboard Restaurant 2024 | Oceanside CA | 760-279-6300 |
| Pacific Yacht Agents | Los Angeles CA | 808-214-0970 |
| Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines | La Jolla CA | 858-450-4581 |
| Boujiemana (La Maison) | San Diego CA | 415-710-0510 |
| Sets Kitchen and Bar | San Marcos CA | 970-390-2148 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Boston Bibb Lettuce. One
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