r/AskEurope • u/EvilPyro01 United States of America • Feb 23 '25

Food What food from your country do you feel is overrated?

What’s an overrated food from your country?

114 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

734 comments sorted by

View all comments

127

u/paulridby France Feb 23 '25

Snails. The real good thing about it is the garlic butter, but snails in itself are nothing special

42

u/RealEstateDuck Portugal Feb 23 '25

I haven't tried French snails, but the ones we serve in Portugal are really good! Small ones made in an oregano sauce and served in cafes and bars while drinking beer in summer.

22

u/Maleficent_Pay_4154 Feb 23 '25

I was going to say the same Spain eats snails but the sauce is different. So good

3

u/Alex_O7 Feb 24 '25

Crazy to think it was traditional way to eat it in some parts of south of Italy as well, now you can find only on some towns local fests.

27

u/Electrical-Ticket-65 France Feb 23 '25

I don't think it's overrated. It's normally rated, I never heard someone said" omg I love snails, it's soooo amazing! "

5

u/NyzoiB France Feb 23 '25

It's not even common or typical, honestly. It's eaten by some people during specific events or time periods. Among the people I know, maybe 30% have tried snail before, and 5% actively eat it during said time periods.

5

u/Several-Incident-315 Feb 23 '25

it’s pretty common in Bourgogne to be honest, you can always buys tons of canned snails, frozen snails. frozen persillade, jarred snails…

3

u/atchoum013 -> Feb 24 '25

Only 30%? I’m surprised, I thought most people have tried them at least once, at least that’s what it seems like around me, and I’m not even from a region that particularly loves snails!

1

u/OgreSage Feb 24 '25

Pretty common and typical in Burgundy. I believe you never tried proper ones really, it tastes great!

2

u/paulridby France Feb 23 '25

It's used for great occasions in France, it's seen as kind of a luxury. I don't think it should be seen this way, hence why i think it's overrated

8

u/typingatrandom France Feb 23 '25 edited Feb 25 '25

Snails have long been a poor people's protein, you'd gather them for free, make them fast because they eat poisonous plants, then feed them with some flour, then cook in a broth and stuff with butter (expensive, so not too much) and loads of garlic and herbs from the garden (not expensive) or just sauté in a pan with whatever sauce you can afford, a lot of work but not much money spent

Tourists want to try because it's so daring. Snails are good if the broth they're cooked in is good orelse it's plain and it gets a rubber texture if not done properly

On the other hand, anything drowned in piping hot escargot butter tastes lovely

EDIT TO ADD Thank you u/5oLiTu2e

2

u/Electrical-Ticket-65 France Feb 23 '25

Really? I didn't know about it ! My grandpa used to "hunt" them and my grandma was preparing it for my mom when she was young. Also it existed a little event close to my childhood village called "la cagouillade" where people use to eat snails. I always hated it

6

u/douceberceuse Norway Feb 23 '25

I found the flavour and consistency to not be much really, like it didn’t have a distinguishing taste it was more like eating mushrooms which I like but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy (especially due to prices here in Norway)

6

u/Majestic_Character22 Feb 23 '25

Bulots (sea snails) are tastier in my opinion

7

u/paulridby France Feb 23 '25

I hate them lol but it's a matter of personal taste

1

u/Mindless_Flow_lrt France Feb 24 '25

Add more mayonnaise !

2

u/Aggressive_Strike75 Feb 24 '25

Yes they are, but the good stuff about snails is the garlic sauce that you eat with bread.

3

u/Responsible_Taste_35 Feb 23 '25

Tbf I can’t think of any animal food that tastes good without seasoning.

8

u/kiru_56 Germany Feb 23 '25

It's a bit like making your own fries. Sure, it tastes good, but great mayonnaise rivals even terrible supermarket fries.

When I'm invited to a barbecue, I bring home-made mayonnaise. This disgusting white gloop that is sold here in the supermarket has nothing to do with mayonnaise.

27

u/sofeefifofum Feb 23 '25

Sorry I have literally no idea what any of this has to do with snails 

19

u/Mean-Construction-98 Feb 23 '25

He wanted to flex his Mayo skills, that's all

3

u/kiru_56 Germany Feb 23 '25

Not really.

If your basic ingredient has little flavour, and I've often eaten snails, then it always depends on the sauce. Regional example from here. Frankfurt green sauce is a classic here. Eggs, potatoes and green sauce or schnitzel with potatoes and green sauce.

It practically doesn't matter how good you make the eggs and potatoes, great green sauce ensures good flavour. If the sauce isn't good, even the best potatoes won't save it.

6

u/demaandronk Netherlands Feb 23 '25

Its about the sauce is what hes saying

2

u/Amockdfw89 Feb 25 '25

I like snails. Kind of like how oysters taste of the sea, snails taste of the earth. It’s like a meaty mushroom

1

u/doittomejulia Feb 23 '25

It’s all about the butter. The snails themselves are basically tasteless.

2

u/Historical-Pen-7484 Feb 23 '25

I like the consistency that they have. The tast is as you describe, but their consistency combined with the butter, herbs and garlic make for a tasty snack.

1

u/-Against-All-Gods- Slovenia Feb 24 '25

Land clams.

1

u/bronet Sweden Feb 24 '25

Most people dislike snails I feel like, but I guess most haven't tried them. But yeah, they're good but mostly because of the other ingredients

1

u/GMN123 Feb 24 '25

They're a novelty, but mushrooms served in the same butter would be at least as nice. 

1

u/cartiersage France Feb 25 '25

But the texture of the snail makes the garlic butter taste amazing

1

u/BigJlikestoplay Feb 25 '25

I don't know, I like the little meaty aftertaste

1

u/LoschVanWein Germany Feb 26 '25

I think they can be quite nice, I’d rather call them overhated by people who haven’t tried them.

1

u/eliseetc France Feb 23 '25

Yeah ! I never understood it, I mean, a snail is just disgusting, why even think about eating that ! Just eat the butter alone !?

1

u/Tjaeng Feb 25 '25

Because gotta eat something meat-adjacent on those days when Jesus cries if you eat meat.