1 cup port wine
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 shallot, finely minced
Sea salt, preferably gray salt, and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 cups loosely packed young frisee (curly endive), torn into bite-size pieces, or mesclun
1 1/2 cups ribbon-cut radicchio, soaked, drained, and dried
1 crisp red pear, halved, cored, and very thinly sliced crosswise
2-ounce chunk farmhouse Cheddar
1/2 cup coarsely broken Spiced Candied Walnuts, recipe follows
Peanut or canola oil
Water
4 cups walnut halves
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Michael's Notes: Supermarket pears are usually rock hard because they have just come out of cold storage. Buy your pear a couple of days before you plan to use it, and leave it at room temperature to soften a little. It's easier to slice if it's still fairly firm.