Cobb Salad

Step 1

Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the water, vinegar, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the oil until a loose emulsion forms. Taste, and adjust the seasonings and oil as desired. If the dressing separates, whisk it back together just before serving.

Step 2

Make the salad: Position oven racks in the upper third and lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees.

Step 3

Line two small sheet pans with foil, if desired. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and place it on one of the sheet pans. Lay the slices of bacon out, evenly spaced, on the other sheet pan.

Step 4

Roast the bacon on one rack for 20 to 25 minutes, or until crisp or done to your liking. Roast the chicken on the other rack for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the skin is lightly browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part without hitting the bone reads 165 degrees.

Step 5

Allow the bacon and chicken to rest until cool enough to handle.

Step 6

Meanwhile, drizzle the avocado with the lemon juice so it does not turn brown, and season with a pinch of salt. Season the tomatoes with the salt and pepper.

Step 7

Bring a small pot of water to a boil over high heat. Gently lower the eggs into the water, and adjust the heat to maintain a gentle boil. Cook for 6 minutes for soft, jammy yolks, or 10 minutes for hard-cooked eggs. Drain and cover the eggs with cold water until cool enough to handle, then peel and chop them.

Step 8

When the bacon and chicken are cool enough to handle, remove the skin from the chicken and pull the meat from the bones. (Reserve the skin and bones for broth, if desired.) Chop the meat into bite-size pieces; chop the bacon into bits or slivers.

Step 9

In a large bowl, toss together the chopped lettuces, chicory and chives. Divide the greens among four plates or shallow bowls. Arrange the chicken, bacon, eggs, avocado, tomatoes and cheese in rows across the greens. Drizzle each salad with dressing just before serving. (You may also wish to serve this family-style: Plate it in one large bowl and drizzle or toss it with dressing just before serving.)