Gary Tanigawa Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 The birthday girl wants escargot. Anywhere you would recommend over Cafe du Parc? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgholwill Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 La Chaumiere on M Street in Georgetown has them on their classic old style French auberge menu. This could be a good choice for a birthday in the middle of winter if they still have the fireplace in the middle of the restaurant - a rarity in DC. Sort of romantic. Quiet and charming, and you'll feel like you're a million miles away from downtown DC. The place has a steady clientele of older regulars who have sworn by it for years, but it's one of the few places left in the city to get the old French standbys. Here's the menu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmoomau Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 I like Bistro Bis' escargot a lot. Especially when they do the red wine escargot, but I have never had escargot I didn't thoroughly enjoy at Bistro Bis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 I've been drawing a blank for the past twenty-four hours, trying to think of where I've had fresh (farm-raised) snails recently. I know I've had them before here in the U.S., but I just can't remember where, or when - I thought I was losing my mind because I've got a pretty razor(-clam)-sharp memory for things like this (and yet, someone I meet will tell me their name, and, to my horror, I can't remember it five seconds later). Doing a little digging (for information; not for snails), I found a plausible answer for my amnesia: Several years ago, the USDA made it illegal to ship them across state lines. So every snail you see in a DC restaurant is canned, and has been for quite some time. I don't know if there are any snail farms in Virginia, but if so, your best bet might be Inn At Little Washington. How much do you like this girl? Here is a ten-year-old article about Maryland's only snail farmer which includes some of the restaurants he supplied at the time. And there is a tantalizingly cryptic comment on this snail-farming website from someone named "odis" who wanted to start one in Prince Georges County earlier this year. Forgetting the possibility of fresh snails, it all boils down to preparation. All the French bistros will have them, of course, and as you noted Cafe du Parc is a fine choice. Assuming you don't mind classical garlic-butter recipes, there's also La Chaumiere, Et Voila!, Bistrot Lepic, Montmartre, and Bistro Cacao. (All those links are to the menus themselves (but you should call first anyway)). Cheers, Rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sthitch Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 I have had them at Marcel's, but never in the traditional garlic butter style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vero Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 The birthday girl wants escargot. Anywhere you would recommend over Cafe du Parc? Thanks. Come to Bistro Cacao, 320 Mass Ave NE washington DC 202 546 4737 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Tanigawa Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share Posted December 30, 2009 Yes Don, I should have mentioned that she is looking for a traditional preparation. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I will report in a few days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol_ironstomach Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 The birthday girl wants escargot. Anywhere you would recommend over Cafe du Parc? Thanks. Fantasy league answer: fly to the Costa Brava in Spain and make your way toward Girona, near where you'll find Can Barris, a now-substantial family restaurant built entirely on the reputation of its cargols (small Catalan snails, from whose name escargot is said to be derived) which are grown onsite; two generations ago this was principally a snail farm and the restaurant a sideline. The Catalans eat only the muscular front (foot) half of the snail, pinching off the rear portion of the viscera (containing the intestines) against the shell opening to be discarded. Served by the 100-count in a garlicky tomato sauce, they are extraordinary. Drink Priorat. lunch, 21 Sept 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Charleston in Baltimore does a pretty good snails and garlic and puff pastry thing. I know, not DC, but just more thoughts for when you're meandering about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grover Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 I had a good Escargot at La Bergerie in Old Town Alexandria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotteeM Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Several months ago I had a heavenly plate of snails at Zaytinya in Penn Quarter. Matter of fact, Mike Isabella won a quickfire challenge on Top Chef with that snail recipe. It's more Greek traditional than French, but it was delicious and my favorite dish of the meal at Zaytinya. Check out the menu here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr food Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Several months ago I had a heavenly plate of snails at Zaytinya in Penn Quarter. Matter of fact, Mike Isabella won a quickfire challenge on Top Chef with that snail recipe. It's more Greek traditional than French, but it was delicious and my favorite dish of the meal at Zaytinya. Check out the menu here. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcturus Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Citronelle uses fresh escargots. Dunno if they're on the menu or not now but when they are, they're delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Wiss Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Poste Brasserie does a great job with Escargot. Buttery Puff Pastry, Pernot Garlic Lemon Butter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiantiandFava Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 So... anywhere/anyone doing something fun for National Escargot Day? (Tuesday, May 24th). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 On January 4, 2010 at 0:42 AM, Todd Wiss said: Poste Brasserie does a great job with Escargot. Buttery Puff Pastry, Pernot Garlic Lemon Butter. I know this is 6 years old, but how on earth did I miss pernod garlic lemon butter?!?!?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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