STRANGE DELICACIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 9

STRANGE DELICACIES.

Frogs and snails, tho two items of French cooking which are so often looked U]>on with suspicion by British visitors to France, are now at their best (wrote 11. G. Cardozo recently from Palis to London daily). British residents in Franco often acquire a marked liking for these delicacies, and I have many friends whoso first request when they return to Pans on a visit is to be told where they can Tet a good dish of snaihi or of iiogs. ° The edible frog as prepared for cooking is a most tasty-iooking morsel, and few people on seeing half a dozen of them neatly skewered together would guess their origin. Only edible frogs of an adult ago arc chosen from specially preserved 'ponds, mainly in the Nivemais country. They arc carefully skinned and prepared, only the hind logs being retained. Either fried in butter or cooked in a white sauce, they taste like the finest breast of chicken, and have not the faintest fishy flavour. * * * * *

The preparation of snails, the consumption of which in Paris alone reaches over 10,000,000 a year, is a long task. There are two varieties, ' the big white snail, known as the Burgundy or vine snail—which was introduced to Prance by the Romans, who considered it a delicacy , reserved for the very rich—and the small common or garden snail. The big white snail is still comparatively dear, costing about 2s a dozen, while the garden snail is sold at less than half that price. The snails, once thev have been collected, arc left for 10 days or so to starve, and they are then most carefully washed. The snail is taken from the shell, cleaned, and replaced in the shell with the butter sauce which gives it the unique flavour. Tills sauce is made of pure melted butter, with which is incorporated a small amount of garlic, chopped parsley, and other tasty herbs. Snails axe served piping hot, and the French restaurant-keeper provides a quaint-looking nickelled clip, with _ which the gourmet' holds the shells while extracting the contents with a special snail fork. Though the white Burgundy snail is fairlv large, it is not out of the way for a snail lover to dispose of three dozen at a meal.

Mr Speaker has reminded the House of Commons that seats are a matter of mutual courtesy. The House of Commons, which has more members than seats, has persistently maintained the rule tjiat there is no proscriptive right to any seat in the House. There is one exception. A member who has been thanked tty the House in bis place has a right to that particular sent as long as he is a member of the House, but such cases are extremely rare. Even the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition have no absolute right to their place, as was made clear many years ago when Cobhctt “jumped” Peel’s seat on the front Opposition bench.