I need some help from my fellow Chicago Dopers…
After watching way too many episodes of “Man vs Wild,” I’ve decided that I must try rattlesnake meat. I live in Chicago and I’m having no luck w/ search engines to try and find places that serve the delicacy. Is there such a place in the area? Do I have to buy it raw and cook it myself?
Dunno about Rattlesnake Meat in Chicago, but we had Def Leppard in Columbus last week.
You can get it from a number of places mail order, such as gourmetfood.com, exoticmeat.com, etc.
Check out Amazon’s link. Little doubt it’s snake meat, eh?
Try Fox and Obel downtown.
There’s also a butcher shop in the far southwest suburbs which has exotic meats - Czimers. It’s in Homer Glen (way down south).
There’s a Fox & Obel right behind my office building. I’ll have to go check it out after work.
That Amazon link provided upthread, the meat is selling for about $36/lb. Is that price to be expected?
Would a sausage be acceptable?
Because there is a place called Hot Doug’s on N. California that specializes in exotic sausages.
From the link,
Please - I beg you - all of you - go and read the one review on lieu’s link (before it’s taken down).
Holy Cow! Obviously, I’d not read that far down, I just thought the picture was interesting.
The same guy that wrote the comedy review of the rattlesnake meat has a bunch of other funny reviews. Check out the one for “Elk Carcass”.
All I can say is that if I can get rattlesnake meat in Belfast, you can get rattlesnake meat in Chicago. A deli in town has some in their freezer, which I happened to notice when I was buying biltong yesterday (it is a very good deli, but I’m sure you have better).
Even if your local delis or exotic food shops don’t stock it, they might be able to order it especially for you.
Not quite IN Chicago, but close enough, there Czimer’s:
Czimer’s Game & Sea Foods Inc
13136 W. 159th St.
Homer Glen, IL
Phone: (708)301-0500
They had some controversy a few years back for selling meat of endangered species.
In Gary, Indiana, there’s:
Mark’s Food Mart
6125 W. 25th Ave.
Gary, IN
219-887-8085
Give Gepperth’s Meat Market. (1964 N. Halsted; Chicago, IL; (773)549-3883) a call. They might not always carry rattlesnake meat but they always have a varied selection of exotic meats. Their selection is always changing. So, I suggest giving Otto a shout and asking if they have any on hand or expect to at any point. At the very least I bet he’d order some for you if you’re willing to plan ahead.
Another plug for Hot Doug’s. I’ve had rattlesnake sausage there several times. Give Doug a call and ask when the next time he’ll be serving it is!