You Mean I’ve Been Eating THAT?
Scary people are descending upon my house today to eat lunch. I’m not cooking for them. My ‘hood contains one of those dive corner grocery stores, a place where a person can duck in and come out ten minutes later with a paper-wrapped hunk of goodness.
No, not a 40-ounce bottle of beer or a 16-ounce can of Miller High Life wrapped in a brown paper bag. (Both can be had there in abundance.)
A falafel. Fried chick pea stuffed pitas with salad and sauce – a combination that leaves me happily burping the afternoon away in memory. It is heaven from the moment I try to cram the ginormous thing into my mouth to the late exquisite bite.
I used to feel that way about them. Now, I’m not so sure. Since some hideous spoiler of all things delightful told me that falafels contain cilantro, I have been frightened of going in there and ordering one.
My sickened obsession about it was bothersome enough that MTM threw up his hands and walked around there to ask if their concoction contained any devil weed bits. Their answer: sometimes.
Sometimes? You mean to tell me I MAY have consumed the devil weed in microcosmic fragments as part of enjoying a falafel from Charlie’s Grocery? And, I didn’t know it, didn’t spew it forth from my mouth and refuse to have any more of it, let alone eat the whole corrupted thing?
They say that – when they have cilantro, which is rare – they put it in the chick pea mixture before they fry it into little balls. No one would admit how often they have it, or whether the one I ate two bites of on Saturday contained any.
I guess if I’ve been consuming cilantro for years as part of my Charlie’s falafel addiction, the joke is on me. Maybe it really is proof that frying anything to smithereens makes it edible.
Too Much is Just Enough: Falafels from Charlie’s Grocery
Moral of the story is to never inquire in too much depth of the things you eat. Just keep your fingers crossed that it’s usually good stuff and no alien life forms.
I know. I know. I should never have found out about the sometime bits of cilantro. I KNOW.
I think that Lou has his comment set to auto comment for 6:02 am.
I am sorry that I will be missing the lunch get together at noon. It is difficult for me to get away from the zoo once I get out on Kiawah. All of my children are needy when it comes to technology and the truly need me when I am onsite. I researched this falafel that Andra has been talking about and I must say that while it is interesting it is not something that I would be interested in eating. One of the things I will miss is being able to see everyone and give Michael a big hug. In my absence I hope that someone will hug Michael and make him feel right at home. LOL
That’s a good idea, James, I could just come up with 4 or 5 generic statements that could serve as responses and just auto comment. Actually, I get back from the gym and and after breakfast, newspaper, et al, I turn to the Andra-Dites for enjoyment and amusement. It just usually happens that it’s about 6 am when I have time for it.
Really, everyone, Lou just never, ever sleeps. Ever.
I know it’s a haul for you to come in from Kiawah, James. I know we’ll be doing a Zia one soon.
I know Carnell will miss your hug.
First of all, can’t wait to see you all for lunch!
Second, where can I get a beer can like that?
Third, the universe has a perverse way of giving back to us what we most protest against. It is the cosmic humbling which we all deserve. From ending up with kids who are our opposites to discovering we contain the traits we most hate in others. Fate is perverse and as a great sense of humor.
Or maybe we are just plotting to make you eat cilantro.
MTM bought that four pack for the sewer people, and they wouldn’t take it, so now we’re stuck with them in our fridge. (Of course, it is his Milwaukee brand of choice.) I’m sure he will share one with you, but they do sell them at Charlie’s, where we’re going to get falafels in a bit.
Everyone plots to try to make me eat cilantro. Everyone.
I hate that I missed you all today. Today was c-razy. My kid had a fever, but thanks to mom, I was still able to get my highlights. Priorities, you know. After a round trip to Hanahan in afternoon I-26 traffic, I may have to stop by and have one of those beers. In Portland, I became a big fan of Pabst Blue Ribbon… but I’m thinking it’s a notch above Miller High Life. You think?
So how were today’s falafel? Did it kill you?
Seriously, I have to proofread before I hit publish. How WAS the falafel?
PBR a cut above the Champagne of Beers? Not so! The only thing PBR has in common with champagne is the nasty hangover! (or so I am told).
I know nothing about beers. Since I do not drink them. Ick.
Falafels were amazing. We missed you. Lunch lasted two hours and many people became Facebook friends over it.
MTM, a PBR hangover IS pretty awful.
One of these days, I’ll need to try a falafel. Funny about the cilantro. Has to make you think what cilantro on the sneak you’ve been ingesting
Charlie’s is one of the best I’ve had, Vera, and it is a convenient Sat or Sun excursion for you.
Just be sure to knock on my door and say hi if you come to visit the ‘hood.
This little mishap is a sure sign that accidental is the right name for your blog! Just eat the falafel and be happy you’re not allergic! Makes me hungry, I love falafel!!!
Wish you were here to join us Anne! We miss you down South.
Ditto to that!!
We’ll have to get one when you’re down next, Anne. When will you be our way again? You’ve got to be getting tired of the snowy North.
we’re scary?
Um, some of you are scary. I reserve the right to keep the some part to myself.
Mmmm falafel. Next time we get together, let’s have one of those, if they can confirm it’s a non-cilantro day! And a macaroon. Great, starting the day hungry.
It’s a date!!! The macaroon shop opens again in February, so when do you want to come on down?!?
And then again, maybe the devil weed isn’t all that bad in the proper proportions.
Were you damaged as a child by a poorly concocted recipe with ridiculous amounts of devil weed?
I had a miserable experience in NYC with Indian food in my younger days. It is a blog post that I should write. Your question just reminded me of it.
The things we do for family.
You just reminded me of an Indian food near death experience I had in the late ’80s. It was an unfamiliar restaurant that a friend liked, where the food was offered in a 1-10 range of spiciness. I preferred my food much spicier then, and my friend ordered his at level 10. I figured 5 was safe. I was wrong.
Didn’t eat Indian food for several years after that.
My mother always said, “never say never, because if you do, that’s exactly what you *will* do!”
We’ll be missing falafels with you all today because we have a meeting with a client.
Have fun and eat some for me as I do love those chick-pea goodnesses.
Come on over anytime, Cheryl. I hope your meeting goes well today.
It was a fun time! The falafel was really great – well other than the lettuce all over it.
But that was quickly cured. The best part though was the fine lunch company and conversation.
You should not be cilantroing on lettuce, Carnell. It is good for you. Much better than that stogie you smoked all afternoon……
Fa-LA-fells. Not Fal a FELLS. At least And now I know how to pronounce it now that I’ve eaten one! (Thanks Michael). And thanks Andra for hosting!
They were SO yummy and the company was even better! Missed those of you unable to join us today.
So….when’s the next Zia outing?
. Gosh I just love friendships that involve good food.
Sorry to miss bodypump! I’m going to work it back into my routine very soon.
I know I should do body pump, but I am trying to find a workout that involves just eating and having my digestive tract burning the calories…..if I can figure that out, you can all say you knew me when.
And I cannot do Zia next week. The entire week is now tentatively committed. But the week after is all good.
UMMMMM?? Where was my lunch…..Oh well, me and Eeyore will just mosey along.
“It’s snowing still,” said Eeyore gloomily.
“So it is.”
“And freezing.”
“Is it?”
“Yes,” said Eeyore. “However,” he said, brightening up a little, “we haven’t had an earthquake lately.”
The House at Pooh Corner
I thought the royal food taster was bringing your imperial meal?
We will have to bring the meal to His Royal Highness on Daniel Island. If the royal taste buds can process falafel.