Best greens to dress up the turn in box

[TMB]

OK guys and gals, which is the best greens to use for a turn in box for BBQ comps??? 

[ArnieM]

I've never been in a comp Tommy, so take it as you will.

I love green leaf lettuce.  It's crinkly, fairly tender, really green and holds up well "under pressure".  Maybe a bit of julienned red bell pepper in there for contrast. 

But, like I said, ...

[TMB]

I've never been in a comp Tommy, so take it as you will.

I love green leaf lettuce.  It's crinkly, fairly tender, really green and holds up well "under pressure".  Maybe a bit of julienned red bell pepper in there for contrast. 

But, like I said, ...

Sounds good , but you can't have any RED in the box. TR says it's marking a box for the judges.

[ArnieM]

I've never been in a comp Tommy, so take it as you will.

I love green leaf lettuce.  It's crinkly, fairly tender, really green and holds up well "under pressure".  Maybe a bit of julienned red bell pepper in there for contrast. 

But, like I said, ...

Sounds good , but you can't have any RED in the box. TR says it's marking a box for the judges.

Wow, no red - interesting.  Kale is another possibility.  It's tough stuff, holds up under heat and looks nice.  They aren't gonna eat the greens anyway.

Certainly no soft stuff - Bibb, Boston, etc.  And, I wouldn't use iceberg - too BLAH looking.

[Gizmo]

Check the rules of the competition you are in.  They may state what can and can't be used.  Green leaf lettuce appears to be common as is Parsley, but I have seen rules where green leaf only is required.  I remember seeing a post on another site some time ago where the person used a bed of iceberg lettuce on the bottom and the entire top was carefully laid out with parsley. 

[Quarlow]

I am with Arnie on the Kale. Nice and tough and less green so the food would stand out more. But what do I know. just my P's and Q's

[StickyDan]

Welllll, If I was a judge, I know what kind greens I'd be smokin' -  uhh, I mean looking for....
I don't know squat about BBQ judging so what I'm about to say probably has no validity but, I ordered delivery a few times from a place that put everything on a bed of lettuce.  I hated it.  Everything tasted like lettuce.  Fries, chicken wings etc.  YUCK.  I always think of that when I see BBQ judging on TV.

[Habanero Smoker]

I would go with Gizmo's suggestion, and read the rules to see what can and cannot be used as a garnish; they may have strict rules on what can be placed in the entry box.

[TestRocket]

KC rules on garnish:

"Garnish is optional. If used, it is limited to chopped, sliced shredded or whole leaves of fresh lettuce, curly parsley, flat leaf parsley and/or cilantro.

Kale, endive, red tipped lettuce, lettuce cores and other vegetation are prohibited.

(Improper garnish shall receive a score of one (1) on Appearance."

If anyone has garnished a turn in box for a KCBS type of judging and has a PIC or advice we would love to hear that you did. Thanks!