How To Tackle An Alligator Without Risking A Limb
A post on Chowhound by someone with a desire to cook gator meat (and also with the Caps Lock firmly in place) reminded us of the first time we were offered this Florida delicacy. We were sitting with our parents for lunch years ago at Doc Dammers (remember that place?) and ordered the gator burger. We thought it was just named for the UF Gators, until the waiter kindly leaned over and explained that the burger was actual gator meat. We switched orders then, but a few years later, when we were more adventurous eaters, we tried gator chili elsewhere and found it quite satisfying.
A helpful chowhound posted a link for alligator meat suppliers throughout the state; at the very top is All American Gator Products, based here in Pembroke Park, where you can get alligator wallets, purses, even alligator tooth pendants. And gator meat, of course, with suggestions on how to cook each cut. Frying seems to be the preferred method, although we're partial to this recipe for sauteed medallions in Dijon mustard sauce.
If you're not up for cooking it yourself, several South Florida restaurants serve alligator:
• Grassy Flats in Tequesta served a mix of the recipes offered above: breaded and fried gator bites with a mustard sauce.
• At Waldo's Sports Pub & Grill in Coconut Grove, they treat alligator meat as a chicken wing, fried and served with blue cheese.
• Alligator comes fried or in a soup at The Crack'd Conch in Key Largo.
Does anyone know where to buy gator meat uncooked? [Chowhound]
All American Gator Products [Official Site]
Photo: Flickr
