Escargot
The escargot (plural escargots, IPA: [ɛs.kaʁ.ɡo], French for snail) is a cooked land snail. Escargots are usually served as a starter in Portugal, Spain and in France, and are a typical dish in the Catalan region of Spain. The word escargot is also sometimes applied to the living snails of those species which are commonly eaten in this way.
Snail species
Not all species of land snail are edible, and many are too small to make it worthwhile to prepare and cook them. Even among the edible species, the palatability of the flesh varies from species to species.
In France, the species Helix pomatia is most often eaten. The "petit-gris" Cornu aspersa is also eaten, as is Helix lucorum. Several additional species, such as Elona quimperiana, are popular in Europe; see heliciculture.
History
Snail shells have been found in archaeological excavations, indicating snails have been eaten since prehistoric times. A number of archaeological sites around the Mediterranean have been excavated yielding physical evidence of culinary use of several species of snails.
Podcasts:
Escargot!
by: Pin-up Went DownWhen you were born Chiara
My burial veil returned to the dead
I woke up one morning
And snails were dancing in my brain
When you were born Chiara
My burial veil returned to the dead
I woke up one morning
And snails were dancing in my brain
I opened my eyes on earth
And my heart left a room where I used to wander
Sleeping like a question in the guts of a ghost
When you were born Chiara
My void became a stair and they were up
I'm still a wound in time
But snails are dancing in my brain
I open my arms today and
You are running all around my days and I'm