Snails

There were indeed, many very bad years when there was no meat at all for the peasants, and when snails were vital to their diet, but they always were and still are eaten for pleasure too, in vast quantities. Languedociens adore them. I was excited, travelling through the Pays catalan, at being given in a small restaurant a great plate of tiny, stripy snails, all bathed in a delicious herb and tomato sauce. It was messy, but eating them with chunks of bread was a joy.