Snails: Not Scary!

By Tejal Rao Fri., Aug. 31 2012 at 10:00 AM

Categories: 100 Dishes to Eat Now

Rao

Welcome to 100 Dishes to Eat Now, the tasty countdown leading up to our "Best of 2012" issue. Tune in each day (weekends too!) for a new dish from the Fork in the Road team.

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Escargots Bourguignonne, $11, Jeanne & Gaston

Despite their reputation as some real millionaire shit, snails aren't exactly a luxury item, and you can find them on the menus of French bistros prepared simply and priced modestly.

Chef Claude Godard's restaurant Jeanne et Gaston does a great version of Escargots Bourguignonne -- an old-school dish of snails cooked simply with tons of butter and parsley. You can use the little fork to dive into the pools and get to the fat, tender snails, but eventually the fork fails. What you need is some warm bread to finish this off.

It's not posh, but it is good. And sitting outside on the restaurant's (empty) patio, dappled in sunlight, is a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

Jeanne & Gaston
212 West 14th Street
212-675-3773

Read the most recent posts on our food blog or check our longer weekly reviews. Contact the writer at trao@villagevoice.com.