Escargot

In this beautifully nostalgic cookbook, Susanne Cerha shares her childhood tradition of foraging for snails in the royal gardens of Rosersberg Palace, north of Stockholm. Starting in the early 1980s, Cerha and her mother gathered escargots as part of their modified Catholic Christmas meal, blending history and necessity to connect with nature and supplement their food supply. The vivid descriptions of oak-lined paths, beech woods, and family memories evoke the magic of creating something extraordinary from humble origins.

With a personal recipe and stunning photos by renowned Swedish American photographer Florence Montmare, the book captures the essence of this unique tradition. It is a tribute to Cerha’s resourceful mother, the bond between food and memory, and the rich flavors of hand-raised escargots, lovingly prepared. Montmare’s images bring the entire experience to life, blending the grand landscape with the intimate ritual of transforming simple ingredients into a gourmet dish.