I'm Eating What?! Buffalo Bob's Alligator (With Beef) Stick

I just couldn't resist: Since my partner-in-crime is a graduate of the University of Florida and I'm a Seminole to the core, I had to buy Buffalo Bob's Alligator with Beef stick so I could maw it right before his very eyes. (By some stroke of luck, I found it...

By Riki Altman

December 18, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

I just couldn't resist: Since my partner-in-crime is a graduate of the University of Florida and I'm a Seminole to the core, I had to buy Buffalo Bob's Alligator with Beef stick so I could maw it right before his very eyes. (By some stroke of luck, I found it when searching for a post-game snack after the Gators lost their last opportunity for a shot at the National Championship a few weeks ago, rendering my crude display that much more effective.)

I'm surprised he never saw it in the pantry, the nearly foot-long brown baton with

an open-mouthed alligator on the lemongrass-colored label. When I

found the stick at a convenience store, I grabbed it with glee.

Just

don't ask me where I was when I purchased this treasure. Somewhere in

goodness-knows-where Florida -- that's near whatever gas station my

best friend and I stumbled into between Orlando and New Smyrna Beach

when she ran out of gas on the way to Epcot--there's some convenience

store that sells this type of stuff. According to Garry Zick, the owner

and founder of Zick's Specialty Meats

in Michigan, the company that makes the sticks, they can only be found

in specialty and convenience stores, and the occasional "tourism

places." (Since he sells only to distributors, he couldn't think of any

place in South Florida that sold the stuff, but mentioned they can be

found in some gator venue near Everglades City.)

But enough about the history. Let's get to the eatin'.

I cut open the bottom and took a whiff. It smelled sweet, yet smoky. No surprise there. Thankfully, it also barely left an oily residue on the wrapper, so I had no fear that it would perhaps clog my arteries. And don't ask me why, but I guess for the sake of research I gave a little lick on the outside of the stick. It reminded me of a salty balloon... not that I often lick salty balloons, or anything.

The ingredient composition was simple enough, too: alligator, beef, salt, the ever-ubiquitous "flavorings," citric acid, dextrose, brown sugar, sodium erthyorbate, and sodium nitrite. And I was pleased to see Buffalo Bob (a.k.a. Garry Zick, I presume) didn't falsely advertise, since the label clearly states "ALLIGATOR WITH BEEF" at the top.

Before digging in, I asked Zick what he thought the mild stick tasted like. "I definitely know it's not chicken," he replied, then added after contemplating, "Turtle meat."

Not too much enlightenment there.

As I expected, it was pretty soft, the soft, taut skin only providing a little snap when I cut it with my incisors. It was just a little salty on the tongue, and definitely had a drier consistency than a Slim Jim and a much gamier, slightly sour flavor. Within seconds, I devoured the whole thing. Happy to report there was virtually no aftertaste.

Zick told me his company uses the leg meat because the better stuff -- loins and tails and such -- go to restaurants. "Can't do much with it but grinding," he explained. And he says he buys all his gator meat strictly from Florida. Dare I hope it mostly comes from Gainesville?

Zick's also sells products made with elk, kangaroo, pheasant, wild boar, and even antelope, and he said consumers can also find a exotic game snack stick combo on some Cabela's website, if they feel like comparing. Would I eat another alligator stick again? Definitely. And I can't wait to send boxes of the stuff to all my Gator friends for Christmas.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, New Times Broward-Palm Beach has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.