Baked Sea Snails with Garlic Shoots

Sea snails, or whelks, are associated with the seaside or East End seafood stalls, where they are sold in little tubs with malt vinegar, and are generally as edible as rubber bands. However, I find whelks much tastier than their landlubber snail cousins, and this dish is like a marine version of that bistro staple, escargots à l’ail. Along the Essex and Suffolk coastline, you will find many fishermen landing cockles and whelks. Sadly, though, I just don’t think the demand is there no