Imagine walking into a fancy French restaurant and spotting this on the menu: "Burgundy Baked Snails" (Escargots de Bourgogne). Would you order it? For many, snails are still those slimy little critters creeping around the garden. But in France, they’re a "gourmet delicacy"—even dubbed a "national dish"! Why do the French eat snails? Are they actually tasty? Or is there some hidden secret behind it?
1. The History of Eating Snails Goes Way Back
1.1 Surprise: The French Didn’t Start It!
Think the French invented snail-eating? Think again—the Romans beat them to it! Archaeologists have unearthed piles of snail shells at Roman sites, proving that over 2,000 years ago, snails were already a delicacy.
The Romans even "farmed snails," feeding them milk and grape leaves to make them plumper and tastier. At lavish Roman feasts, snails were a "noble appetizer," far too pricey for the average person.
1.2 From "Peasant Food" to "Aristocratic Fare"
By the Middle Ages, snails took a different turn. During Catholic "fasting periods," meat was off-limits, but snails didn’t count as "meat," so monks and the faithful turned to them.
In times of famine, the poor scoured fields to "gather snails for survival"—free, easy to find, and packed with protein. French farmers figured out that cooking snails with "butter, garlic, and herbs" turned them into something unexpectedly delicious!
2. How Do the French Eat Snails?
2.1 The Classic "Burgundy Baked Snails"
Order "Escargots de Bourgogne," and here’s what you’ll get:
A plate of "6-12 snails," their shells stuffed with butter, garlic, and herbs. A "special snail clamp" to hold the shells steady. A "tiny snail fork" to pluck out the meat.
3. Would You Try French Snail Cuisine?
From "Roman nobility’s treat" to "medieval peasant grub" to "Napoleon-era palace cuisine," the snail’s journey is more incredible than you’d expect! Today, it’s a French classic, even considered a national dish.
So here’s the question: If you stepped into a French restaurant and saw "Burgundy Baked Snails" on the menu, would you order it?
Let’s Chat: Have you ever eaten snails? What did you think of the taste? If you haven’t, would you dare to try? Share your thoughts in the comments!