Radicchio

It`s an italian variety , really hardy , coming from the alps , if you see it at the market just buy the salad and you can simple rooting the stolk in water ... bitter taste , we use to mix salad or making risotto

 

it is quite a pleasant lettuce, not too much flavor, that you can eat mixed with other salads or cut in thick slices and grilled accompanying grilled cheese for example. It guess it withstand the cold, because it grows well in north Italy.
PS from memory if you want your chicories to taste sweeter, you have to cover the plant with some plastic for 10 days before you pick them.

 

try that first , the taste it`s really sharp ....plus very ornamental as well