Snail Invasion to Escargot?

Attached is a very fuzzy picture of a snail that has invaded my yard and garden for the last 3 years. There are a lot of them and they are quite large. I have enjoyed eating escargot in Portugal, France and Germany and have directions for purging them and cooking them. Paula Wolfert, the famous expert on Mediterranean cuisine says people in California should eat the snails rather than driving over them in their driveways.
Does anyone know if this particular type of snail could be used for decent escargot? That would certainly solve my snail problem.

This message was edited Jun 22, 2006 3:32 PM

Had hundreds in So, CA, years ago. Thought I was rich - the found out how much trouble it was to clean them out after their normal Ice-Plant diet. However, someone is doing that and had a thriving business for some of the restaurants.

I think they would be fine if you wnat to take the time to do the work.

Preparing/cleaning/cooking: http://escargot.free.fr/eng/cooking.htm

This is what Gourmetsleuth.com says:

Discarded roasted snail shells found in archeological digs indicate that prehistoric humans enjoyed "escargot". Pliny described Fulvius Hirpinus' snail garden as having varied species of snails and feeding them on wine and cornmeal. Ancient Romans, and later, other Europeans ate snails during festivals, Lent, Mardi Gras and Carnival. There are edible land snails ranging in size from 1/4 inch to giant African snails growing up to 12 inches. The traditional escargot is the common garden-variety snail. Escargot (French for snail) are available fresh, chilled, canned, or frozen.
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/ListWebSites.asp?RunReport=Run+Report&SelStart1=ESCARGOT
If you wand down to near the bottom of the above link there are some really good informational links.

I happen to like escargot but I'm not sure if I'd have the nerve to try the above.

This message was edited Jun 22, 2006 5:26 PM

The picture I sent is very fuzzy. I am new to digital ( and all other kinds) of photography so I wiggled or got too close up, or something.
I hit Goggle on the subject right after I posted my question and fond lots of info on snails-> escargot. You do have to purge them and one book I have says you have to feed them on cornmeal for a few days.
Though I love escargot, I am not sure I am up to doing this, but my husband would really go for it, I think. Of course he would make me take the first bite.
I think I have identified my snails as helix aspersa which is one of the standard edible ones. I think I will see if I can find a snailologist who is better at identification that I am.
I don't plan to start a business, but I rather like the idea of eating the pests in my gardens. Thank God, I don't have slugs.
When my mint tried to take over, I learned a lot of ways of using mint. Maybe my next endeavor will be snails....... ummm escargot.
Your link has some great recipes and other info. Thanks!
betty

This message was edited Jun 22, 2006 4:50 PM

ROFLOL here re:

Bon appétit Betty!!!!!

Must admit revenge is great tho.....I spent the earlier part of this evening hunting down and gleefully smushing the wriggly devils that have been munching on my tropical plant leaves. :^)))

This one link will help you keep the population of your newly discovered delicacies from dropping too drastically: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/srb96-05.htm ;)

PAJA,
I say fire up the steamer, make some melted butter, and have a FEAST.

Best;
bluelytes

I haven't tried it yet, but since it takes them about 8-10 months from egg to adult, consuming them once in a while would have an effect on the population. Mmmm... Squishing them sounds so gross, but once they are cooked they are chewy.

I tried it once: rounded up a couple dozen of the critters, fed them on corn meal and lettuce for a week, cooked and ate them They were chewy but rather tasteless.

I usually toss them in with the yard debris the city picks up for its compost program, so they get a great last meal before they're recycled.

BTW, roof rats supposedly like snails, which is about the only point in their favor. So do ducks.

PAJA/TARD,
Sounds like you overcooked them.

Best;
bluelytes

TARD/BLUE

I am glad to hear you survived! My worst fear was finding out they were toxic -- not from poison, but themselves. Most of my neighbors don't use any sort of poison, too many cats, dogs and small children around.

Now that I know of a person who ate them and lived, now maybe I will try it. I know in France they cook them in a lot of butter, herbs and wine. Almost anything would be good in that sauce!

If I chicken out, I can always put them in the garbage just before the garbage truck arrives. Unfortunately, where I live you have to drive the stuff to be composted to the dump yourself. I don't get enough at one time to make that worth my while. Besides, I compost most of our waste myself.