Question of the Day — 7 Dec 2005

There's no list available of places in Las Vegas where you can order escargots and, although we like snails and have eaten them in numerous locations, it's not a formal survey we've ever underaken — until now!

Although they’ve been popular since Roman times and are enjoyed in Portugal, Greece, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, parts of Africa, and the Caribbean, snails, like frogs legs, are considered a quintessentially French dish. And it’s true that France is the biggest consumer of escargots in the world, chomping through some 40,000 tons of snails per year.

There are several different types of edible snail, but the famous French variety is the escargot de Bourgogne (Helix pomatia) from the Burgundy (French: "Bourgogne") region of France. Rich in calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C, they're traditionally served as an appetizer à la Bourguignone, i.e., with a sauce of butter, parsley, and garlic. Other popular variations include a similar preparation baked with a crust of flaky pastry (escargots en croute or feuilleté aux escargots) and/or with mushrooms (escargots aux champignons or, conversely, champignons aux escargots).

Our research has shown that this hors d’oeuvre is much more widely available in Las Vegas than the last French dish we searched for, the elusive crêpes suzette dessert (QoD 11/06/2005). What follows is not an exhaustive list and we haven't yet sampled them all ourselves, so let us know how they were if you try any of these or if you find escargots on the menu elsewhere in town. In all instances, the dish is served as an appetizer.

• Hugo’s Cellar, Four Queens — Escargots Bourguignonne en Croute, sautéed in shallots, garlic, burgundy wine, and fine herbs. Topped with a light flaky pastry ($12).
• Alizé, Palms — Escargots de Bourgogne, traditional imported French escargots in garlic herb butter, served in crispy brioche with garlic chips and fried parsley ($16).
• Mon Ami Gabi, Paris — Escargots de Bourgogne ($9.95).
• André’s (original), 401 S. Sixth St. — Escargots de Bourgogne ($12.75).
• André’s (in the Monte Carlo) — Escargots de Bourgogne ($15).
• Top of the World, Stratosphere — Escargots Aux Champignons, simmered in Cabernet, then baked in mushroom caps with garlic herb butter ($16).
• Pietro’s, Tropicana — Escargots à la Bourgignonne, served with herbed garlic butter ($11).
• Fleur de Lys, Mandalay Bay — "Baeckeoffe" of Escargots de Bourgogne, with oyster mushrooms, celery, and garlic raviolis. (Prix fixe only for three, four, or five courses at $74, $82, and $94 respectively.)
• Michael’s, Barbary Coast — "Baked Escargots, Michael" (basically escargots Bourguignonne en croute) ($25).
• Pamplemousse, 400 E. Sahara — Escargots à la Bourguignone, with garlic, butter, and parsley or the "house recipe," sautéed with sliced mushrooms, garlic, shallots, red wine, cognac, and demi glace ($10).
• Ruth's Chris, 4561 W. Flamingo Rd. and 3900 Paradise Rd. — "Escargots," served the traditional way with butter and garlic. ($13.95)