What are French cooked snails called?

escargot
The name escargot is derived from the French word for snail, which is exactly what the dish is made from. Yes, you read that right, escargot is famous around the world because it is a dish made up almost entirely of snails.

Are there different types of escargot?

There are over 100 different species of edible Escargot snails, but the most popular ones are Helix Aspersa or “Petit-Gris”, French for Little Gray, Helix Pomatia or “Escargot de Bourgogne”, French for Burgundy Snail, and Achatine or Asian Snail.

What are escargots in France?

The Cagots (pronounced [ka. ɡo]) were a persecuted minority found in the west of France and northern Spain: the Navarrese Pyrenees, Basque provinces, Béarn, Aragón, Gascony and Brittany. Evidence of the group exists back as far as 1000 CE.

Why do French eat escargot?

To impress the Tsar with something he had likely never eaten before, Carême prepared escargot à la Bourguignonne, or Burgundy snails. Escargots, butter, garlic, parsley. The tsar was completely enraptured by the simple yet delicious dish. And voila, snails were back on the menu in Paris.

What is the best escargot?

The Helix Pomatia Linne is famed as the highest quality escargot of the 116 varieties and is now available exclusively form Sarl Henri Maire and La Maison De L’Escargot. With exclusive rights to import these Wild Burgundy Snails, you will not find a better escargot anywhere in North America.

What region of France does escargot come from?

Escargots de Bourgogne is a snail species (Helix pomatia) that was once abundant in the region of Burgundy. A tourism book published this year suggests that the snails prepared in Bassou, a town in Burgundy, were sold to wine sellers in Paris, who helped make the dish popular back in the early 19th century.

How do escargots taste?

Escargot’s taste and texture resemble those of clams. Snails are often said to taste like fish or chicken, with an earthiness reminiscent of mushrooms. For the most part, however, the snail takes on the flavor of the butter or sauce with which it is cooked.

Do French people actually eat escargot?

In truth most French people have never actually eaten snails, known as escargots. They are generally seen as a food of the elite – or a novelty for tourists, so how did they get to be emblematic of French cuisine? France remains world’s number one consumer of snails, going through about 30,000 tonnes every year.

Where do French snails come from?

Where do Escargots come from? Helix aspersa, locurum and pomatia originate from different regions of Europe, but all three major edible snail species thrive in the wilderness surrounding the Alps in Eastern France. The escargots are commonly seen sliding along the French countryside after heavy rains in search of food.

What are the best snails to eat?

The most popular edible snails in the world are the Giant African Land Snail (Helix aspersa), the European Garden Snail (Helix aspersa), the Turkish snail (Helix locurum), and the Roman or Burgundy snail (Helix pomatia), commonly known as the land lobster for its exceptional flavor and texture.

What kind of snails do French people eat?

Snail species In France, the species eaten most often is Helix pomatia. The “petit-gris” Cornu aspersa and Helix lucorum are also eaten. Several additional species, such as Elona quimperiana, are popular in Europe; see heliciculture.

How do you eat French escargot?

Once you’ve plucked up the courage to order, you’ll be delivered a tray full of snails, a pair of tongs and a snail fork. To eat, you simply need to hold the shells with the tongs, and twist the fork to separate the meat from the shell. Take your time; escargot are meant to be enjoyed slowly.