By Alan B. Combs

Tarragon is an herb used in traditional French cookery. It is used to good advantage in various sauces and herb vinegars. Pierre was a master French chef and his use of elegant spices was extraordinary. His fame spread throughout the countryside and all was well until one fateful year.

Suddenly the results of Pierre’s cooking turned terrible. His vinegars were vile, his flavors were a flop, and his Bearnaises were bad. After some investigation, he discovered that his latest batch of tarragon was responsible. It was not usable under any circumstances. In fact, it could be called a tarragon of perverse capacity.