FROM THE DESK

I didn’t wake up thinking I would say the words, “Today, waiter, I’ll have the snails.” But there they were, sitting in front of me: a dozen shelled snails, sitting in a garlic and parsley butter, drizzled with a red wine reduction, sprinkled with walnuts and pear slices, with a side of sourdough. Sitting down at Le Chef, it would have been rude not to tuck in — especially when three boisterous types at the neighbouring table started chanting, “Escargot! Escargot!” at me. Turns out, they weren’t bad. Actually, I rather enjoyed my first taste of snails. You can try them at today’s Curious Food Festival, along with plenty of other tasty dishes (see pages 4 and 5). Be warned: you’re going to need a big appetite to experience this festival properly.