Sunday 31 March 2013

The snail

The clue was on the railing:






A well known restaurant which I have yet to visit. The restaurant has an interesting history being the first to serve fresh snails in Britain. It opened in 1927 by George Gaudin who had the idea of raising his own snails in the basement kitchen. Above the restaurant you can see a plaster bust of Gaudin riding a snail. Apparently he used to enjoy sitting by the window inviting guests to join him for a drink before giving them a tour of his snail farm.

It has had many other owners since then and had a complete refurbishment in 1998 now displaying a number of 20th cent works of art by Picasso. Matisse, Chagall, Miro, Hockney and others.
 

15 comments:

  1. Nice photo but I could not think of any think more disgusting than eating snails, could not even try them when I was in Japan.

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  2. The restaurant looks expensive. You try it first.

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  3. That picture of Gaudin riding the snail is amusing. I've never eaten snails; have you? A very interesting place, nevertheless. :-)

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  4. I have never eaten a snail and I don't think I will do, but the one on the fence I like a lot.

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  5. I am not confident I would order snails. Great shot.

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  6. A few years ago I loved to eat snails. I even have a special service for that with special plates and tongues to hold them. It's a well known starter here in Belgium and you get them in lots of restaurants. Mr.G's mother in Italy collected them in her garden and then they were sitting in a sieve for a couple of days to get all the sh..t out. Very appetizing ! Then she cooked them. For them it was a normal plate like you would eat a steak ! Today my taste has changed and I don't eat them anymore.

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  7. If snails aren't your "cup of tea" (have to admit they are definitely not mine), I think this restaurant would be well worth a visit just to see the art exhibits. (I wonder if they have any veggie versions of snails :)

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  8. What great mean to measure time and life.

    Please have a good Tuesday ahead.

    robert geiß

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  9. I have never tried snails and I do not think I want to. The fence is cool, great shot!

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  10. Love the guy riding on the snail! I love escargot.

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  11. Nice info on the restaurant.

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  12. Proportionate to size, this could almost qualify as the 'BIG Snail'!!!

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  13. It looks very classy .... Marco has been out here in Australia as part of our "Masterchef Professionals" series .... He's a great cook. Maybe one-day you'll venture inside for a big bowl of buttery garlicky escargot.

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