Julia Child’s Escargots à la Bourguignonne

Celebrating Julia Child’s Birthday
with Her
Escargots à la Bourguignonne

Just beyond the doors of Julia and Paul Child’s apartment at 81 Rue de l’Université, the narrow Paris streets settle into a golden, late-summer hush. It is August 15th, Julia’s birthday, and Paul has planned a special surprise.

Arm in arm, they stroll along the cobblestones, passing sun-dappled wrought-iron balconies draped with geraniums. The scent of yeasty pain de campagne drifts from a corner boulangerie, mingling with that of roasted coffee from nearby cafés. Paul’s eyes glint with quiet anticipation, eager to reveal his secret.

81 Rue de l’Université, Paris

After a short while they arrive at their destination — Bistrot Ataloré, a small, warmly lit eatery tucked on a side street where the awning is striped in red and cream. Paul had stopped by earlier in the week to alert the maître d’ to the occasion. As they step inside, the aromas of garlic butter and roasting meats envelopes them.

“Bon anniversaire, Madame Child,” the maître d’ says graciously, bowing ever so slightly. “Nous sommes honorés de célébrer avec vous ce soir.”

He guides them to a private little table in the back corner, away from the gentle bustle of the dining room. As he hands them the menus, he leans in conspiratorially. “You must begin with our escargots — a specialty of the house. Divine garlic butter, perfect for dunking with our fresh-baked baguette. And the sole meunière… magnifique. For dessert, I recommend our seasonal figs with sabayon. Très enchanteur.”

Paul smiles at Julia, already knowing she’ll say yes to the escargots — the tender wild snails from Burgundy bathed in parsley-flecked butter. It is the kind of dish that lingers in your memory long after the last bite, much like this evening surely will.

The meal begins as the escargots arrive, bubbling in their cast iron dishes, green-gold pools of garlic-herb butter infused with a touch of dry vermouth, fragrant with fresh parsley and shallots. Each snail is perfectly coated, inviting a first bite of mouthwatering, buttery richness… Julia is in heaven.

Bon Appétit!

Julia Child’s Escargots à la Bourguignonne Recipe

Ingredients

1 dozen canned snails, rinsed and drained (Escargots de Bourgogne)

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened

2 tablespoons finely minced shallots, twist in a towel to extract any juice

1 – 3 cloves garlic, finely minced or mashed (I used 3)

2 tablespoons finely minced parsley (I used a bit more)

1/8 teaspoon salt

a grind of black pepper

1 – 2 teaspoons dry vermouth (optional, I used 2)

Method

Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).

In a bowl, cream the softened butter. Mix in shallots, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and vermouth until fully blended.

Spoon a small amount of the butter mixture into each well of your escargot dish.

Place one snail into each well atop the butter.

Cover each snail generously with more of the garlic-herb butter, filling the wells.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 – 13 minutes, until the butter is bubbling and sizzling. See Video: Cooking Escargots

Serve immediately with crusty baguette for dipping.

Et voilà, Julia Child’s Escargots à la Bourguignonne — bubbling garlic butter, good bread, and a glass of wine. Toujours bon appétit!

On this special day, as Julia and Paul savor the escargots and toast to a life steeped in the love of French cuisine, we join in celebrating the timeless legacy she gifted to home cooks and food lovers everywhere. Merci, Madame!

Bon appétit — and joyeux anniversaire, Julia!

In Memoriam

JULIA CHILD

August 15, 1912 – August 13, 2004

Notes

Recipe

I adapted my escargots recipe by combining insights from Julia Child’s original 1961 Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1 and her updated Beurre pour Escargots recipe from the 40th Anniversary Edition published in 2006.

The Child’s Paris Apartment

Julia and Paul Child lived at 81 Rue de l’Université in Paris from 1948 to 1956. This elegant Haussmann-style building, with its cream-colored stone façade and wrought-iron balconies, became their first home together in the city.

Located in the 7th arrondissement near the Seine, the neighborhood is known for its quiet, upscale streets filled with charming cafés, boutiques, and historic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. Julia affectionately nicknamed their apartment “Roo de Loo,” and it was within these walls that she and Paul embraced Parisian life—shopping at local markets, learning classic French dishes, and entertaining friends who would become part of culinary history.

Map screenshot courtesy of Google Maps. Used with permission under Google’s Terms of Service. For the full location, visit Google Maps – 81 Rue de l’Université, Paris

Bistrot Ataloré

Bistrot Ataloré is a fictional Parisian gem — where the air hums softly with the murmur of conversation and the clink of wine glasses. Its menu is handwritten daily, a careful balance of timeless French comfort dishes and market-fresh inspirations.

The cozy interior, with its red checked tablecloths, vintage posters plus paintings from local artists, and softly glowing table lamps, reflects the owner’s pride in creating an authentic and inviting atmosphere.

As bread arrives still warm from the oven, time seems to slow just enough to savor every sip and bite. The chef is happy to share stories behind every dish and eager to craft meals that are as memorable as they are delicious.

Annual JULIA CHILD BIRTHDAY TRIBUTES