An unbelievably hot pepper, reputed to have originated in Havana (La Habana), Cuba.
Often mispronounced by English speakers, the word should NEVER have a "y"
sound: it's "hah bah
NEH ro", NOT "hah bah NYEH ro". (The "h" is not pronounced in
Spanish, but that's probably too much to ask of any gabacho.)
Bob's waiter did not understand why the habanero salsa looked like it hadn't been
touched. Bob understood all too well.
The habanero pepper is deceptively un-hot looking: like a
brilliant miniature
smooth pumpkin.