If I say I am going to make gator hand then by golly I am going to make gator hand. If I say I am going to braise that gator hand then I braise it.
No bull around here when it come to gator hands.
Now this isnt entirely true because what I am going to braise is going to be the gator arm or more 'pc' to call it the shank. We will be braising a gator shank - not the hand, or will we?
Yet still this is not entirely true because pork belly is in the house. Nice and fat yet lean, filled with contradiction -pork belly.
Why pork belly you may ask - because what if the gator shank is unsavory?
Its called 'back-up' and when mouths want to be fed its good to have something to feed them and besides not everyone is clammoring to have gator shank.
A little pork belly, a little gator, a little pico, a little coconut rice, oh and in case you are wondering - they both took quite a while to cook, almost longer than a confit...
A little blackberry balsamic and it smooths out the wrinkles.
...and so did the hand - did you ever read that monkey paw story - this is so like that!
66 comments:
...........speechless!!!
Ummmm...(pause) I'll take the pork belly. Not sure if I'm ready for gator shank.
im with jenn, the gator shank looks a bit intimidating...
I'm scared more than hungry. Ummm... people eat gator hands? you can call me ignorant, I won't mind!
I'm not afraid of.....any food that's cooked.
How was it?
There must be something you can do with that hand!
maris: you and me both....
jenn: I gotta tell you - it tasted swampy
mrslavendula: besides the 'paw' it was like any old shank
starr: maybe they dont and I am the ignorant one...hmmmmmm
micky-t: it was swampy tasting - not gamey but that extra water bird swamp kind of flavor - I am going to make a potent broth from the bones and see what happens
I know you are not in Louisiana by the writing on the box......
You love to shock me!
coconut rice for me only, please. You are too much! Love your open mind.
ho. ly. cow. that is creepy! you are certainly a much stronger person than i. :)
You are way more adventuresome than I, my friend. I think I'd turn around and go home if presented with that gator hand.
You should have saved this one for Halloween or April Fool's ... sorry but yuck.
I'm not feeling this one doggy..
WOW--okay, the gator hand definitely wins presentation points :)
I've only had gator once, it was in some sort of gumbo served in bayou country--it tasted fine, if a bit stringy.
So, was it tasty?
wait $3.99 a pound? god that seems really cheap.
did anyone eat this at home? I'm sure the boy had a good time with the claw. those nails!
stacey: the old 'shock and awe' in all its glory
donna: it was irresistable
grace: I tried to show the less creepy shots...
linda: I wouldnt blame you...
andrewsmom: that would have been a less shocking good idea...
snugs: its way to visual - I know
tavolini: I have had gator nuggets before and it was the tail meat which was more chicken like - this was more wild boar like...
dawn: we all had a taste - we even had a guest - my friends 18 year old daughter is crashing here and she said it tasted good...we will be making a necklace from the claws
Okay. I almost threw up. I'm sitting here eating a chicken biscuit from Chick-fil-A.
Very adventurous! That claw is a little scary but I'd try the gator shank :)
bina: it looks more shocking that it actually was...
5 star: it would be a good thing to try - once -
Um, I'm kinda freaked out right now.
girli: hoepfully we will take on the spirit and power of the alligator..
I'm with Maris. Speechless. You alternate between pictures that send me running screaming for mama and pictures that make me hungry. Having said that, I've been told alligator tastes good. I have yet to try, but I want to.
Gulp. I can honestly say, I've never had alligator and I am not sure I ever will, but I will try a slice of the pork belly.
oh
my
god
Chinese doctors believe that eating alligator and crocodile meat helps cure asthma.....
what I want to know is:
-what did you do with the gator paw?
-How does gator taste with regards to is flavor and texture?
Becuase the paw is creepy to me... i wouldnt want to know it was gator until after i ate it.
you amaze me.
no doubt you bought that claw from Chinatown... right> lol
OMG! Dude, you have the biggest cooking chops of anyone I know. Fearless, that's what you are!
leela: hey you only live once and even if I do get reincarnated I wont remember a thing.
pam: good choice!
beth: I was SHORT of ideas until this came to mind!
kenny: see everyone there is a silver lining - thanks kenny!
mo: chinatown! how did you guess? it has a gamey wild boar/wild duck flavor....
diva: you know what they say 'fools rush in where angels fear to tread'
Wow. Most original by FAR!
I've had alligator once... it wasn't bad... That friggin' paw is the bomb!
This I will pass on! I had gator once in New Orleans...it tasted like rancid fish with the texture of chicken. I thought Jenn said "gator skank"...that would sum it up better.
I've got to say, I'm not ready for an identifiable body part on my plate. Whole lobsters creep me out, too, although I have no problem with parts.
Woah this disturbs me a little
That claw is a little bit nuts, but I've eaten gator a few times in FL & I love it! Nice work!
heff: original is good....
buff: like I said - it is a one time thing - this little baby was 5 bucks and for the money it was worth the fun but I wont do it again...
jill: you nailed it solid - that about sums up the flavor ...just throw a side of duck mud in there and its complete
marjie: I tried to tone down the body part action but it wasnt easy to do
ozge: as it should....
jason: the gator nuggets I had and this shank are worlds apart...
I suppose if you lived on the bayou this would be a steady part of your diet, from what I hear. That hand is kind of scary, and it looks like you would need a chainsaw to cut through the skin. Are you sure you didn't kill a bigfoot on one of your mushroom expeditions?
You are so brave.
lol You've officially done too much!
Wowzas! I am impressed! I have only had fried gator and did not enjoy it so much. The class is freakin my out!
Wow, you are brave! I'm not sure about gator shank either, but I'll take your word for it.
reeni: it might be an acquired taste and I bet many people enjoy it
duo: did I raise the bar?
foodie: it is freaky so that makes sense...
sara: you could probably go your whole life and not miss it...
That is SCARY food! IS it food? I seem to be out of speech...
So scary, so creepy!
I have nightmares about alligators once a week. Terrifying!
oh my!!!!! I'm shaking... You could host a show with Andrew Zimmern
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
oh my lordy. What did you do with the hand?!!!
but I'm actually quite familiar with crocodile meat. In Singapore, they have crocodile farms for this sort of thing. I guess alligator tastes the same?
awesome! i love weird/scary food!
I have to admit I didn't expect this lol. Wow...what a welcome back to the blog world. My husband said "what in the world is that?" Having lived in Florida I knew....but um..hmm...the gator forgot to clean under his finger nails.
Seriously?! Wow! That is insane!
Hey I am speechless too!! did you have gator shanks??? oh my I havent gone that far yet!!!
uh, no thanks!
I need for you to post something pretty, I think I have been scarred for life from that paw/hand/freddie kruger claws haunting me all day.
Gag! I couldn't eat this. I'm squeamish.
I used to teach "The Monkey's Paw" and I'm pretty sure it would have that effect on me!
Fortunately, you cook other things I know I'd like.
creepy.
super creepy.
I do like gator, but that hand is frightening!!
Whoa. Can I have a cupcake with that?
Geezluiz that's freaky!!! YikES!
This is definitely one instance when I really, really don't want to know where my food comes from!
i can't believe you were actually able to buy a gator hand! it's not the first thing I would choose to cook up, but i think it's really cool that you did!
Yikes, this totally upstages crickets. That gator hand looks totally freaky. I would still eat it though.
Wow. Where did you get the gator shank? How was the texture after a long braise?
I'll be stunned and speechless if someone serves me that ...umm....
gator paw...gator hand...almost frightening looking piece of gator there! i'll take a piece and try it but i'm pretty sure the pork belly would be the fav for me...
YIKES!
Oh my lord. Offal. It's just offal.
oh my gosh...the gator shank looks really scary to me
Note to self....read blog post BEFORE scanning straight down to the picture....I almost passed out.
WOW!!! A big "good for you" for such an opened cooking mind!
Oh, goodness! Not sure what to say now...I am disturbed!
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