In the UK snails are mostly considered a pest, little slimy slitherers who eat your plants and have the audacity to leave a messy track as a calling card. That is unless you are a two-year-old when snails are charming new friends full of glittery trailing loveliness to be treasured and petted in your sticky little hand.
In other areas of the world snails are considered a tasty treat, whether it's the giant African variety served dried on sticks, or the escargot, farmed and served with grass sauce or garlic butter. Britain is coming round to the idea -theres a snail farm supplying restaurants just a few miles away from my village, in Aylesbury.
I hadn't realised that Cypriots traditionally eat snails unit I visited the aptly named Garden of Eden supermarket in Paphos where among the displays of fresh fruit and vegetables I photographed this:
Get ready for the begging bit!
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This post is linked to Jaime Oliver's #magicmoments and Charly Dove's #whatsthestory. Both lovely ladies are also shortlisted in #BiBs2014 categories so pop along and check out their blogs too.
In other areas of the world snails are considered a tasty treat, whether it's the giant African variety served dried on sticks, or the escargot, farmed and served with grass sauce or garlic butter. Britain is coming round to the idea -theres a snail farm supplying restaurants just a few miles away from my village, in Aylesbury.
I hadn't realised that Cypriots traditionally eat snails unit I visited the aptly named Garden of Eden supermarket in Paphos where among the displays of fresh fruit and vegetables I photographed this:
Yes, apparently snails sell for six euros a kilo in Paphos- that's if you can manage to grab a kilo as the little blighters were obviously aware of their fate and most of them seemed to be making a bid for escape, tracking their way up and over the edge of the display!
And that right there is why I love Cyprus. Reassuringly familiar with driving on "our" side of the road, using three pin plugs, and yet still very different! You'd never see a display like this in our supermarkets and that's why my holidays here still feel foreign!
Apparently you are most likely to be offered snails in a traditional meze where they might come served in tomato sauce (Karaoli Yahni) or boiled in water and vinegar then served with olive oil, vinegar and seasoning (Karaoli Vasti).
Obviously the snails are farmed, or collected then "purged" - typically kept in a container of wheat chaff with a sprig of thyme pressed in for 3/4 days until their stomachs and insides are guaranteed to only have clean food in!
I have been coming to Cyprus for almost ten years now and have never seen it on the menu, but to be honest we don't tend to order meze as I'd like to fit into my clothes when I get back to the UK.
Anyone reading ever eaten them on the island? Or anywhere else? I'd love to know what you think!
This blog is shortlisted in the "innovate" category in this years Brilliance in Blogging awards #BiBs2014.
Innovate
This is all about entrepreneurship: in your blog, your life, your words. This blogger is constantly innovating: Trying new things, pushing the envelope, reaching new heights. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. What counts is you tried and because of that we have too.Get ready for the begging bit!
To move through to the finals I need votes and there are only a couple of days left!
-Please if you enjoy my ramblings would you do me a favour and CLICK HERE or on the "vote for me" badge on this post or in the sidebar to vote for me.
You only have to fill in your name, give an email address (you won't be spammed I promise) and scroll down to the "innovate" category (voting in the other categories on the way if you'd like to obviously!) and click the button next to my blog name - madmumof7.
This will take a minute or two of your time and could make all the difference. Every vote counts. I cannot imagine making it into the finals but then again I did not expect to be shortlisted. So please, click the badge. Thanks x
