In their shells

I've eaten snails before.  They're delicious.  But I've always preferred to eat them when they look like little brown things swimming in butter and garlic (and perhaps topped by an egg).  I other words, I've eaten snails, but only when they didn't look like snails.  Last night, while sitting on the terrasse at the French restaurant Petits Plats, I got brave and pried the little friends out of their shells with my own two hands (aided by these great little tongs made just for the purpose).  Yum!

Post-extraction

The rest of the dinner was pretty tasty, too.

Beet and goat cheese salad

My entree:  Lamb chops with mashed potatoes and gravy

Amy's entree:  Duck confit with potato persillade
(as it appeared after we dropped my camera in the sauce... oops)