Alligator Meat

[STCM(SW)]

Anyone ever had any?
If so, how was it and where did you get it from?

 

[Rustyt1953]

1: Yes.

2: Meh.

3: An alligator.

 

[Rpg]

1 yes

2 tasted like boiled chicken (it was canned).

3 I picked it up at a convenience store in Texas.

 

[robvious]

1 yes
2 nothing special, bland.. boiled pork?
3 street food in New Orleans, so it may or may not have been real gator...

 

[s&wchad]

I had some deep fried gator at one of my clubs annual wild game dinners. Most of the meat was donated by members back then, so there was no telling if it was processed properly or how long it was stored in a freezer.

It looked great, but had a fishy taste and was chewy. I can see why the member gave it away. I'm sure it's like other game and is best fresh.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Yep.

It’s a novelty meat only. Not great, not terrible.

 

[twodog max]

Yes I have had it. At a New Orleans restaurant. It was fried somehow and in small bite size pieces. I recall it was somewhat fishy and chewy. Not bad but nothing special. I tried it for the novelty but feel no need to have anymore.

 

[chief38]

When I was in New Orleans in 1979 I had Alligator, Frogs Legs, Crawfish and Snake. In New Orleans they really know how to make sauces and so pretty much any food can be made to taste good. I believe the restaurant was Brennan's or O'Brians, or both as I was there for a week and ate all over.

 

[MetalMan]

In Florida…deep fried…kinda chewy.

Not impressed.

 

[Greyman50]

Here in Florida its on just about every menu. Ok but nothing great other than you can say, “ I ate some gator”. BTW, there are So Many gators now they need to be removed from the protected species list. Need more gator belts, wallets and handbags…..and maybe shoes.

 

[03hemi]

Yes. many times.
If it's fishy or nasty, they didn't know how to prepare it.
Taste like a cross between chicken and turtle to me if done correct.
You only eat the tail, sans fat.

 

[Imissedagain]

Living near the Swamp, I try to avoid being
an Alligator's meat.
Trap with slugs practice is prudent.
Just kidding.
A good sauce makes the tail taste okay,
when served by our Swamp buddies.
First time we met them at a Christmas party long ago,
I was the only one without a Rattler or Mocc head on the
front of my Stetson.
Ruger Sec6 Snub is our Swamp gun since '80.

Gator, Gator,
I know what's on your mind.
On your dinner menu,
My name you will not find.

 

[Onomea]

Had some at a gator show — guy with a Michael Jackson glove feeding jumping gators chickens (dead and defeathered*) from a platform — in Kissame, Florida, in the early 80s. Meh.

Kinda bland.

(* In retrospect, live & squawking chickens would have made for a more entertaining show... Maybe a good looking gal in a bikini rather than a Michael Jackson wanna be. And a better, more piquant sauce. Hey, I missed my calling as a gator show impresario!)

 

[WR Moore]

Had gator nuggets on the Seminole Reservation for breakfast. Not bad, but the reservation made cocktail sauce made it better.

 

[soFlaNative]

1 lb. tail chunks heavily seasoned like chicken or pork then smoked was not bad at all.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have had it down in Dear Old Louisiana.
Pretty much like several folks have already described it.
Made me want to sing some local songs.
Or was that the Beer?
Thibodaux, Louisiana - YouTube

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Tastes like greasy seasoned chicken. Good. No bad after effects. Cajun restaurant.

 

[H Richard]

I had it in a stew, in a restaurant, but it was so heavily Cajun spiced I couldn't eat it. One bite, all I got was a tongue burn. Sent it back.

 

[Rudi]

Just once, got it from a good fish market, they have all kinds of meats. Made Gator & chips. Taste, as noted above, but a bit of a muddy after taste.

 

[deadin]

Never had gator. I have had dog, monkey, rattlesnake and whale.
I was so drunk for the dog and monkey I don't remember what they tasted like. The rattlesnake was quite good and the whale tasted like a fatty beef roast that had a mackrel strapped to it while cooking.
(Never was drunk enough to try a baloot....)