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Zora Margolis's avatar

From 1976 to 1978, we lived in Playa del Rey, just south of Marina del Rey in Los Angeles, prior to the construction of the huge Playa Vista development. In those days, there were vast marshes along Ballona Creek, leading to the ocean, which were covered in wild fennel. J often would go birding there, and occasionally I would go with him, although I am not a birdwatcher. There was a type of snail, medium sized with a hard shell -- different than the garden snails I was accustomed to see--that fed on the fennel plants. I wondered if they were edible, but never got to the point of gathering them, which I regret to this day. I can just imagine how delicious they might have been, fattened on the stalks of wild fennel.

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Julia Watson's avatar

Fennel has become one of my favourite flavours. But I'm thinking the garlic-parsley butter might smother the delicate taste of anything a snail might feast off?

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Zora Margolis's avatar

Maybe hold off on the garlic--parsley butter with a bit of tarragon?

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Julia Watson's avatar

That makes good sense. Now to persuade people to try the snails...

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Zora Margolis's avatar

The last time I was in Los Angeles, I drove down that way. Alas, the marshes filled with wild fennel are gone, along with the snails, replaced by endless tracts of multistory condominium buildings, all looking the same. The land used to be part of the old Howard Hughes aircraft factory property, mostly abandoned. It was then acquired by the team behind Dreamworks, who built a movie studio on part of the property, and sold the rest to developers.

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Julia Watson's avatar

Such a sad example of Progress. In the UK, development on land that neighbourhoods once could make use of is just for investment. Large apartment blocks are build by Russian and Chinese consortia then left empty to increase in value while, because empty, are not being charged local taxes.

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Kristi Chase's avatar

When we lived in Morocco back in the 50s, my then 9-year old brother would spend his allowance on prepared snails and eat them by the dozen. As an adult he did not eat anything with onions or garlic. Snails were definitely not on the menu.

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Julia Watson's avatar

How interesting to retreat from having been so adventurous so young. Unusual, I'd have thought, the opposite being a more common development.

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Kristi Chase's avatar

I thought it was being macho doing gross boy things, then not having garlic breath for his girlfriends.

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Julia Watson's avatar

That sounds possible! I once had a challenging woman to dinner who only as she sat down told me she was allergic to garlic. I thought, glancing at her husband sitting opposite, Hmmm; or meeting a lover?

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Patricia Davis's avatar

On my first visit to France I bit the bullet so to speak on snails and frog legs. Big drinks of red wine were tried to cleanse the moment. I’ve always viewed snails as slugs with an RV. They shall remain garden pests although I was charmed by the stalwart majority who returned to the garden.

As for frog legs they were too sqidgy (to borrow my former toddler’s word). And, of course, I cued up Kermit singing “It’s not easy being green.” Give me a sunny tomato with your sauce and sub olive oil for the butter and I’d be good to go.

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Patricia Davis's avatar

Ok, I will give it a go on new potatoes and green beans too, perhaps.

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Julia Watson's avatar

I love 'slugs with an RV'! Frogs legs are not as good as chicken wings, in my view. But snail butter is great on new potatoes, steamed fish and...and...pretty much everything.

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Julia Watson's avatar

Hats off to you! Free food is generally very labour intensive . And not always rewarding.

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Kristi Chase's avatar

Back in the late 70s or early 80s my best friend and I cooked snails from scratch. They were definitely not worth the work. We also saw La Grande Bouffe the same weekend which may be one reason the feast of excess was not repeated.

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Sound practice well-being's avatar

Cringing as I read, I’d have to be very hungry

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Julia Watson's avatar

I completely understand. The sauce is good, though, on pretty much anything.

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Sound practice well-being's avatar

Ooh yes I might try that - thank you

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Sophie's avatar

I love your story about snails’ homing instinct. But I am one of those feeble folk not to be persuaded by even your eloquent discussion of their charms.

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Julia Watson's avatar

Don't worry. You're not alone.

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