Dichos are little fortune-cookie-like confections, except, instead of including words of wisdom like “that lo mein was a terrible idea,” you’ll get them with a plate of enchiladas you’ll eventually totally regret and a saying in Espanish:

Crack open the cinnamon-scented wafer and you’ll find a slip of paper printed in English on one side and Spanish on the other with a Mexican saying, or dicho. Example: La lengua del mal amigo, más corta que un cuchillo. (The tongue of a bad friend cuts more than a knife.)

Mexican saying? Whatever. They were all invented in Cuba. Along with language, fire and rainbows.

Dichos, as the cookies are called, have been appearing at restaurants — Mexican and others — in southern Arizona in a haphazard pattern in which word-of-mouth has far outpaced formal distribution. Raul and Marina Montaño, the Douglas, Ariz., couple who came up with the idea after a Chinese meal in March 2007, have been fielding calls for their product since they opened for business just over four months ago.

Cute idea! We can see them as fun favors for wedding receptions while guests are trying to ignore the fact that the bride is looking a little “radiant” and the groom keeps giving the best man a look that says he really knows his way around a chilaquile.

Speaking of dichos, here are some of our very favorites. Feel free to share your own:

“Quedó en la página dos.” (He remained on the second page.) = He’s dead.

“Quien peces quiere, mojarse tiene.” (He who wants fish must prepare to get wet.) = You’ve got to work to get what you want.

“Si cocinas como caminas, me como hasta el pega’o.” (If you cook like you walk, I’ll even eat the bits of rice stuck to the pan.) = Girl, you are fine. I’m going to attempt to woo your ass and then I’m going to go ahead and never return your calls.

Couple making dichos are smart cookies [LA Times]