This cilantro smells funny

cilantro

n 1: Old World herb with aromatic leaves and seed resembling parsley [syn: coriander, coriander plant, Chinese parsley, Coriandrum sativum]

2: parsley-like herb used as seasoning or garnish [syn: coriander, Chinese parsley]

WordNet® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University



It was supposed to be special. Christian had been thinking about this particular Mexican feast for days. Visions of carne asada danced in his head.

He could see Kristin wandering down the cobblestone road leading to a Spanish villa, her arms full of roses and carrying a bucket of freshly drawn well water. She would pass by his door and he would walk out, not really by accident, and say, "Please, lady, rest your feet, and come into my humble hut and join me for a feast of carne asada and guacamole and Santitas brand tortilla chips and Shiner Bock beer."

It was 3 p.m. He drove straight from work to the grocery. First he carefully selected the avocados. They were perfectly formed, with just the right amount of give. Excellent. Then he bought steak, red onions, tomatoes, jalapenos and a sixer of Shiner.

The cilantro was unusually beautiful for December. It was so green and fresh and shiny.

He was halfway through chopping the herbs when he heard the front door. It was Kristin. She was early.

She walked into the kitchen, liking what she smelled. Christian said it was probably the freshly squeezed limes, because that was all he had done so far. "How far down the stems should I chop the cilantro?" He asked.

Then the bubble burst.

"That doesn't smell like cilantro," she said.

She looked closer.

"That's parsley."





Oh, misery. Oh, despair. Oh, how quickly Kristin and Christian bagged up and froze the parsley and headed out to Las Maracas, their favorite neighborhood Mexican joint (formerly Las Fiestas de Mexico).

No roses. No humble hut. No home-grilled carne asada. And certainly no cilantro.

Album of the moment: Simon and Garfunkel, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme