Cilantro ?

[Mousemom234]

Cilantro Where will I find it, and when can it be avoided ?
I'm finding that more and more restaurants are slipping it into meals, without mentioning it in the description. I'd like to get some information so that I can head off any probable 'dining malfunctions'

DH absolutely detests the 'horrid green soapweed' I can tolerate small amounts, but prefer it not to be found at all.

I know it's listed on quite a few dishes at several restaurants in The World. It would help if anybody could let me know if it's an ingredient or a garnish, and also, probably more importantly, if it's found in dishes that don't mention it's there.
I know it's probably not the easiest ingredient to take OUT, but if it's only a garnish, I'm reasonably sure a polite word to our server will relay the 'no cilantro, please' to the kitchen.

Thanks

 

[Pumbaa_]

Ask your server, they will be happy to help

 

[Mousemom234]

That's sort of what I'm trying NOT to do.
DH won't ask, and I don't want to bring his attention to it.

If I can just mention to him - quietly - "..um, I'm pretty sure that has cilantro..." things would go a lot ...smoother.

Just looking for a bit of info as to where we'd be most likely to run into it, so I'll know if I need to ask. Mexico is already suspect, and not in my plans, also, sadly, is Morocco.

 

[BriLovesDisney]

I've actually never found it in any of my meals in Disney World - but we also have never eaten in Mexico and Morocco.

I also can't stand the nasty green soap-weed.

Why don't you ask the server for your husband?

 

[mom2rtk]

That's sort of what I'm trying NOT to do.
DH won't ask, and I don't want to bring his attention to it.

If I can just mention to him - quietly - "..um, I'm pretty sure that has cilantro..." things would go a lot ...smoother.

Just looking for a bit of info as to where we'd be most likely to run into it, so I'll know if I need to ask. Mexico is already suspect, and not in my plans, also, sadly, is Morocco.

I don't at all understand the tip toeing around the issue. Someone just needs to ask. If he can't ask, and doesn't want you to ask, he should probably just get a hamburger somewhere.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I don't at all understand the tip toeing around the issue. Someone just needs to ask. If he can't ask, and doesn't want you to ask, he should probably just get a hamburger somewhere.

Agreed. DH hates cilantro as well. He's quite aware that its his job to find out whether there's cilantro in something himself, and if he doesn't, then he has to silently suffer the consequnces. I do look out for him though, and point out when I see it in a description.

 

[Allison]

Due to the changing nature of menus, it would be hard for posters here to be helpful, I think. Especially, to ask folks to recall if it is in dishes where it isn't mentioned.

I understand your husband doesn't want to ask, but it is the best way to avoid disappointment.

 

[mom2rtk]

Agreed. DH hates cilantro as well. He's quite aware that its his job to find out whether there's cilantro in something himself, and if he doesn't, then he has to silently suffer the consequnces. I do look out for him though, and point out when I see it in a description.

Seems like a very reasonable approach.

 

[disneyvoice]

I don't understand why he can't just ask if something has cilantro in it. I can't stand raw onions in dishes so I always ask if there are onions in what I am ordering and, if so, am I able to order the dish without the onions. WDW is extremely accommodating with these kinds of requests. I agree that cilantro seems to be showing up in a lot more dishes in general these days (yay for me - I love cilantro!) so unless your husband wants an unwelcome surprise, he should just ask.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I would just ask. The restaurants really do want to help as best they can. I'm on a low sodium diet and managed to eat at WDW for a week, not an easy feat! Something like cilantro would be very easy to figure out.

If he doesn't want to ask, my guess would be to avoid anything with a Chinese, Indian, Southeast Asian, Mexican or Latin American vibe. I say "vibe" because so many restaurants are doing fusion-type recipes now.

 

[Pumbaa_]

That's sort of what I'm trying NOT to do.
DH won't ask, and I don't want to bring his attention to it.

If I can just mention to him - quietly - "..um, I'm pretty sure that has cilantro..." things would go a lot ...smoother.

Just looking for a bit of info as to where we'd be most likely to run into it, so I'll know if I need to ask. Mexico is already suspect, and not in my plans, also, sadly, is Morocco.

My suggestion was based on your comment of it being slipped into meals without being listed on the menu

Only option really is to ask or risk it being slipped in

Personally the more cilantro the better

 

[kellyarms20]

Disney resaurants are so very accommodating, just ask. Nothing to feel weird about. They want you to enjoy your meal as much as you want to enjoy your meal. FWIW, I don't remember ever eating cilantro at Disney.

 

[Moliphino]

My sister hates cilantro and she's never had any issues just going by the menus. We eat in Mexico and Morocco every trip.

 

[Dis703]

If he won't ask I would probably just avoid eating at the Mexican restaurants. But even there I would expect it to likely be listed if it's in an unexpected dish. I can't say I've come across it anywhere else that I can recall.

 

[agavegirl1]

Asian and Portuguese cuisines also can contain the offending herb. I love it and was baffled when people told they hated it and it tasted like soap...until I read it is genetic and involves olfactory receptors and sensitivity to the aldehydes in the cilantro. Learn something new every day. Read some menus and try asking, it can't hurt. If you have questions about a specific menu item on this forum, others may be able to help. I reserve my disgust for kale but that seems to be included in the menu if it is in the dish.

 

[tzolkin]

I love it and was baffled when people told they hated it and it tasted like soap...until I read it is genetic and involves olfactory receptors and sensitivity to the aldehydes in the cilantro.

Yes, DH and I both really want to love it, but just can’t. We use tons of herbs and spices in all of our foods. I can eat things with minimal cilantro, but they just always taste “off” and it’s all I can focus on.

Ironically, coriander is my favorite spice.

 

[agavegirl1]

Yes, DH and I both really want to love it, but just can’t. We use tons of herbs and spices in all of our foods. I can eat things with minimal cilantro, but they just always taste “off” and it’s all I can focus on.

Ironically, coriander is my favorite spice.

Thank you for that information! I was very curious to see if coriander also had a similar effect.

 

[tzolkin]

Thank you for that information! I was very curious to see if coriander also had a similar effect.

It does not have the same reaction and it is delicious. Other parts of the world call both coriander (leaves and seeds/spice), so it’s disappointing when I see a recipe but then realize they mean cilantro.

 

[Mousemom234]

It does not have the same reaction and it is delicious. Other parts of the world call both coriander (leaves and seeds/spice), so it’s disappointing when I see a recipe but then realize they mean cilantro.

I quite agree. I think I use coriander in almost everything. And yes, it's very disappointing to realize they mean leaves, not seeds. I've also heard the green part called Chinese parsley, and Mexican parsley.

When we had a garden, I used to grow it, for the seeds, and never realized the leaves were (supposed to be) edible Always thought they smelled like summer camp yellow soap.


But thanks, everybody - I probably will ask, if it's on the menu in other dishes wherever we eat.
Because, DH will suffer silently, pick at the edges, and 'decide' he's not as hungry as he thought. Then we'll be stopping for something to stop the rumbly in his tummy later.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Pecos Bill is not a place you can easily avoid cilantro. It’s in the rice, guacamole and salsas there.

I love the flavor of cilantro myself and seek it out. Pecos Bill’s is one place that uses lots of it so it’s where I want to go. LOL!