by Bill Whitney

Created on: October 29, 2007   Last Updated: October 30, 2007

When we used to tailgate at the Florida State University football games in Tallahassee, Florida one of the things that we always had was Fried Gator tail. We had it at most of the ball games but ALWAYS for the University of Florida Gator ballgame. Some people even went as far as to get a whole gator and cook it on a spit roaster. Very tasty either way. Gator tail is very good and we usually made at least ten pound sometimes even twenty. This recipe is for when you want it as a appetizer or Hor d'Oeuvres. Just add more of everything when you are cooking a bunch for a tailgate party.

FRIED GATOR TAIL

2 pounds of gator tail cut into 1" cubes
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 can good stout beer
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Dash of garlic salt
2 cups self-rising flour
Oil for deep frying

Marinate the cubed gator tail in a mixture of buttermilk and beer for at least one hour or even better overnight in the refrigerator, Drain well. Coat with seasoned flour and fry in deep fat fryer over medium heat for ten minutes. Drain ans serve.

What we used to do was to marinate 10 -20 pounds overnight in a big cooler and throw it in the motor home along with our fish fryer and oi9l. when we got to the stadium we would fire up the fish cooker and fry up the gator. We used to use tooth picks and make a good dip out of catsup, horseradish, mayonnaise and a little Cajun hot sauce and then stick a piece of gator tail on the toothpick and dip it in the sauce. Of course there was always plenty of good cold beer too. We had many good times on Saturdays eating gator tail and watching FSU football.

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