Have you ever sat down to attempt to do your homework, but decided it was too much when faced with the impossible task of trying to read a philosophical text? If you are looking for a distraction, I have just the piece for you: an informational text on escargot! Why would you want to read about escargot? Well, the alternative is your homework, so you make the choice.
Escargot is the French word for snails, but it also refers to cooked snails. While snails have been enjoyed around the Mediterranean and especially in France, at times they have seen lower levels of popularity and were often regarded as a poor man’s food. Ironically, though it may be one of the most stereotypical French foods, it was the Russian Tsar Alexander I who is credited with popularizing this food. The story goes that the cook at the restaurant had nothing to serve to the Tsar and took snails from his garden, cooked them, and served them to the Tsar (worldinparis.com). Nowadays, escargot is a popular dish, with each French person eating around six per year. They are usually eaten during the Christmas season, with about two-thirds of yearly consumption taking place at that time. The usual Burgundian recipe (the one served to the Tsar) uses butter, garlic, and parsley, with each chef further refining his own recipe. The snails are cooked and then eaten out of the shell using a pair of tongs and a fork (regions-of-france.com). As for eating experiences, this one is definitely unique.
If the idea of slurping down all the snails you can eat is so tantalizing to you that you would like to start up your own snail farm, then you’ll have quite a bit of trouble. The “petit gris” or “little gray,” which is the variety typically used, is an invasive species and can neither be imported into the U.S. nor transported across state lines. They also cannot be sold live, which means the point of raising your own fresh, live snails to sell to restaurants is almost defeated (heliculture.us). If you are that desperate to try them, Walmart sells them online in canned form. As for me, I will simply appreciate their history and decline any that are served to me. You certainly have no obligation to try any, but eventually, you do need to get back to your homework.