Sea snails prove a challenge for daredevil tasters

Gracie Bush (left) and Felicity Rood show pluck in trying the sea escargots at the festival. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Thousands have been flocking to the Viaduct Harbour this holiday weekend to tuck into seafood ranging from oysters to sea escargots (sea snails).

The Auckland Seafood Festival, which continues today, offers patrons a variety of fresh seafood as well as cooking classes, music and entertainment.

Among those enjoying the festival yesterday were Gracie Bush, 12, and Felicity Rood, 10, who were game enough to sample the sea escargots, but delivered a damning verdict.

"Disgusting, it tastes salty. And slimy," was the view of both of them.

But Russell Pierce, who spooned out the snails from the Moana Pacific Fisheries food stand, said they were doing a roaring trade - with 140kg sold in only two days.

"People are very interested and curious. We're selling a lot of them. The idea was to introduce people to something different, because it's a plentiful resource up off the northern coast."

Mr Pierce said that despite the obvious novelty value, plenty of customers came back for seconds.

"Nobody has brought any back and gone, 'Yuck'."

But does he like them himself?

"There's other seafood that I'd eat first. But they're not bad. They're just like escargots in France. It's an experience that's more about the taste of the garlic, the taste of the parsley butter, and the texture."

And that texture is? "Um ... firm."

The charities being supported by the festival are the Kiwi Can Foundation for Youth Development and the Stellar Trust, which seeks to combat the scourge of the drug P.