Triumph of the Snails
Jo writes: “My 79-yea-old mother loves frog legs. Do you have any suggestions on where to go for such a delicacy? She lives in the White Bear Lake area.”
I immediately recommended the frog legs at Cave Vin, the often-overlooked restaurant along the Edina/South Minneapolis borderlands. I love those frogs legs. They’re garlicky, fat, yummy—the epitome of what frog’s legs should be.
Then I set about looking for something closer to Jo’s mother’s house. Surely there were frogs legs—that Kennedy-era epitome of Continental cool—somewhere closer to White Bear Lake?
I looked to what I thought were the likeliest suspects, places that still serve a Kennedy-era clientele. The Lexington? Nope, escargot. I looked to French places. Vincent? Nope, escargot. Pierre’s Bistro? Nope, escargot.
So, in case anyone was wondering: Snails 3, Frogs 1. Sometime in the last decade, frogs were eclipsed by snails. Whether this is good news for frogs I couldn’t say. The frogs and snails served in restaurants are farmed, so you can put this in the great question as to whether it’s better to have never been born or born to be eaten.
Finally, I did find another place in town that serves frogs’ legs: Jensen’s Supperclub.
But if you like frogs’ legs, my advice is to get ‘em now. These things are going the way of the dodo.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for an exciting career in a growth-area of sustainable food, why not become an escargot rancher? I read they eat radish leaves and have sex organs where you’d figure their ears would be.
And that wraps up this episode’s edition of snail-related news, check back in 20 or 30 years to see if something has changed.
Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 in Permalink
Comments may be edited for length, clarity, or appropriateness.
Reader Comments:
When I was a kid, frog legs were my favorite food. And I'm half her age. And - I grew up in Roseville! They must not have been that scarce back then.
The other place I thought of, which you may have checked but just didn't mention, was Jax cafe. According to the slogan on their website home page, they serve "steaks, not trends."
They could change it to "Serving steaks, not trends or frog legs" and it would still be accurate from the looks of it.
I did look at Jax! Before noting that they not only don't have frogs legs or escargot, but they don't have the other creepy-crawly that dominates all appetizer menus in the modern era, namely, calamari.
Why do we like to eat bug-looking things as appetizers? Crab-cakes, calamari, escargot. But lobster is almost always an entree. I guess that busts that theory.
Also, Pinecone: Did you outgrow frogs legs, or are you still a fan?
At the State Fair you can get alligator, the other green meat.
This is going to sound crazy but they serve frog legs at the chinese buffet in SLP near biglots off of highway 7. Their deep fried numbers but if you get them when they first come out...their pretty decent.
Frog legs are found at quite a few of the Chinese buffets. I couldn't tell you if they're any good, but quite a few of the bigger ones have them.
I am still a fan! Although I've eaten so many other delicious things since then that I no longer seek out frog legs. But I actually have had them at the Grand City Buffet in StLP - probably the best thing on the menu.
The Lakeside Supper Club between New Prague and Montgomery often has frog legs on the marquis. Nowhere near White Bear Lake, however.
The dining guide in Minnesota Monthly notes that Cafe Levain serves frog legs... is this still the case?
Good catch! According to their menu from May 15, the answer is: No. We will update the dining listings to reflect that - though the June issue is already out, so the change won't be reflected in print until July.
I am shocked at the depth interest of community interest in this topic and so I will be posting a follow-up with breaking frogs legs news later today! Or tomorrow. You know how it goes. Still: I am surrounding this story!