Snails on the menu

ARMANDII · Feb 6, 2012

Here's an extract from the Amateur Gardening Magazine which will please Ziggy:

"Whether gardeners use slug pellets, beer traps or the sole of their shoe, getting rid of molluscs can be a daily chore.

But a snail enthusiast believes gardeners should be growing their own snails for the dinner table, as part of the national drive towards self sufficiency in tough times. While many households are happy to adopt a couple of hens for their garden or allotment. Helen Howard set up a company selling edible snail farming kits. She found demand for the delicacy, traditionally favoured by the French, has double in the last couple of years. "There is considerable interest in garden farming" said Helen, who supplies her edible snails and kit to restaurants and the public. People increasingly like the idea of local food and become more adventurous due to travelling , although some will always be squeamish.

Any old garden snail, however, will not do. Helen rears the fruit fed Helix aspersa maxima edible snail which takes six months from egg to table. Described as the Gloucester Old Spot Pig of the snail world. they have been bred to grow faster and bigger. Snails were introduced to Britain by the Romans, while in the Middle Ages Monasteries grew their own snails so that the could be feasted on during Lent, when eating meat was forbidden.

Freddy · Feb 6, 2012

Snails? YUCK!

gcc3663 · Feb 6, 2012

Date for the Diary:-
February 14th. The day the Snails get their revised Menu. Slug Pellets are traditionally scattered on this date to catch the little B****** as they start to appear.
Get them before they get established and have an easier time in the Summer.
Happy Slug Free Summers all round.

Phil A · Feb 6, 2012

Although I love Seafood, i've not got to the stage where i've tried Whelks or Winkles yet, early days though, i've experienced a lot of hunger recently.

Would probably have to break myself in on the marine ones before I could tackle a land one.

I was totally vegetarian for 20 years.

Sheal · Feb 6, 2012

I agree with you Freddy.......Snails Yuck!

Ziggy, I was reared near the cockle sheds at Leigh-on-Sea in Essex and with Londoners for parents I was fed all shellfish. Cockles, mussels, winkles etc.

Sunday tea quite often would find me with a plateful of winkles and a pin to pull them out.........until early in my teens. One evening it suddenly occured to me the winkles were sticking to my plate, I was horrified and haven't touched them since! :nono:

Whelks are like chewing rubber.

miraflores · Feb 6, 2012

When I was living in Battersea I owned a water turtle only about 10cm long at the time but she had quite good appetite.
So I would feed her nearly every day with fresh prawns bought at the fish stall near the store and they were not that expensive.
Of course the water needed to be changed practically every day because any leftover food, particularly fish, would smell like hell after a whole day if left in the heated water.

I myself got in the habit of eating those prawns with shell and everything because it was much more tasty than without the shell and also today I love most seafood.
Here in the east we eat jellied eels, which is a taste I acquired quite recently, but I quite like them.

longk · Feb 7, 2012

I love whelks, although as Sheal points out poorly prepared ones are rather rubbery.
Snails are nice, but couldn't risk the breakout - I have enough already!
Anyone tried the widgety grub? Delish - although the initial wriggling in your mouth is a little offputting!

Jack McHammocklashing · Feb 7, 2012

miraflores said: ↑
When I was living in Battersea I owned a water turtle only about 10cm long at the time but she had quite good appetite.
So I would feed her nearly every day with fresh prawns bought at the fish stall near the store and they were not that expensive.
Of course the water needed to be changed practically every day because any leftover food, particularly fish, would smell like hell after a whole day if left in the heated water.

I myself got in the habit of eating those prawns with shell and everything because it was much more tasty than without the shell and also today I love most seafood.
Here in the east we eat jellied eels, which is a taste I acquired quite recently, but I quite like them.
Click to expand...

I also eat prawns whole shell and all, much tastier
Jellied eels too, but the jelly idea initially put me off until I tried them, and found they were more like whiteing in aspic jelly

I have not tried it yet, though when we lived in Gibraltar, we used to collect snails around the dockyard, and took them to a bar, The landlord put them in a box of sawdust for a week then cooked up and served them al la french style very tasty, They appeared to be just common garden snails that I picked up for him, not special breed as far as I know

Jack McH

Victoria · Feb 8, 2012

ARMANDII said: ↑
Any old garden snail, however, will not do. ..... the fruit fed Helix aspersa maxima edible snail which takes six months from egg to table. Described as the Gloucester Old Spot Pig of the snail world. they have been bred to grow faster and bigger.
Click to expand...

This place opened 3kms down the road from us 3 1/2 years ago on a previous orange orchard ... sorry, it's all in Portuguese but there are some beautiful and fascinating photographs ...

http://www.quintadobarranco.com/index.php

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Snails on the menu

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

Phil A Guest

Sheal Total Gardener

miraflores Total Gardener

longk Total Gardener

Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

Slugs and snails indoors

When slugs and snails...

Campanula and snails

Using pennies to prevent plants from snails

Wheelie bin snails

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Snails on the menu

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

Phil A Guest

Sheal Total Gardener

miraflores Total Gardener

longk Total Gardener

Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

Slugs and snails indoors

When slugs and snails...

Campanula and snails

Using pennies to prevent plants from snails

Wheelie bin snails

Share This Page

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