Funny question - but what is escargot like in France?

It should be served in the shells on a proper plate that has the indented spaces for each one--I've never had Escargot that was served more than six per plate. On my most recent trip to Paris I had Escargot at Petit Zinc (St Germaine area) and Taverna Henri IV(located on Pont Neuf). Both were delicious. There is the restaurant L'Escargot on Rue Montorguiell but we decided against it when we saw the prices. Whole Foods has frozen Escargot but it is a very poor substitute for the real thing. If the restaurant has a good reputation I think it would be hard to go wrong. If it was not served hot I would send it back.

Escargot are as delicious in France as they are here in the United States, probably even more so! We had the garlic and butter version but also escargot in puff pastry. Wonderful!

We were in southern Burgundy last spring and there had been lots of rain. On one of the paths on which I was walking were some huge snails. They were about the size of the top of my hand, minus the fingers. I didn't eat any of them but they would have been too big for the six snail serving dish!

I enjoyed it in Burgundy last fall, in the shell on the indented plate. You get a set of tongs to pick up the shell and a little fork to pry the critter out. I think the butter and garlic help you enjoy it without thinking too much about what you're eating.

For some reason, the slugs in our Northwest garden don't have the same appeal. Must be the lack of a shell to pick them up with! ;)

First off escargots are not slugs. They are in fact land snails. My french grandmother used to pick them in the garden in the morning.. and keep them in a shoebox with some lettuce for 24 hrs or more. .this allowed them to "clean out their systems" and eliminate any grit ( sand etc) they had in their systems.

The type of escargots you are describing are " Escargots a la Bourguignonne"( basically garlic, butter, parsely).

I personally have had some good ones and some bad ones in France.

I like them served in shells, its how my mom served them BUT the shells took a lot of effort to clean.. and I wonder if some restaurants take short cuts .. so i actually prefer them served in a proper escargot serving dish when not eating in someones home. When eating them at home we never used holders, we picked those hot little buggers up ( and they should be pipiing hot) and sucked them down.. and then sucked the butter out of the shell. With the dishes one dips some bread in to soak up the butter.

Once in Autun I ate an escargot by accident - it was in puff pastry. It was delicious, though.

Sarah,

The only time i had them was in Calais many years ago.

They didnt melt in your mouth, but were more like really tender clams (not bad either since i do love clams too). Butter and Garlic, yes, but not too overpowering.

happy trails.

Hi, Sarah

I had escargot at La Rotonde in the Montparnasse area last summer. They were really good. The restaurant is a classic "bistro" with both French and tourist customers. There is an English menu with the usual favorites: onion soup, escargots, etc. But they are also known for their seafood.
The wait staff speaks English. They were not overly friendly in the American manner, but not rude, just business-like.
When will you be in Paris? I just read on their website that it is closed until March for renovations.
This restaurant is listed in parisbymouth.com. My go-to source for goods eats in Paris.
By the way, while in the area, the best place for buckwheat crepe is Joselin. Listed as one of top 5 for crepe in parisbymouth.