What are the origins of the French taste for escargot, or snails, to eat?
Answer: In times of famine, particularly in rural France, there was often little else to eat. Over time, the ostensibly paltry and inconsequential dish became widely popular, one enjoyed over the centuries, not just in France, but in later years around the world.
Source: Larousse Gastronomique; Gabriel Gate; General Historical Texts