Bad Tattoo Brewing害羞草研究所檚 newest creation will have you saying 害羞草研究所楥rikey!害羞草研究所� once you害羞草研究所檝e tasted their crocodile pizza.

Specially ordered from a farm in Australia, the Penticton brewery and restaurant decided to go wild and experiment with crocodile meat害羞草研究所搕he tail meat specifically. Donnie Carlson, head chef and dough boy at Bad Tattoo, said the idea to use an exotic meat as a topping arose during the recent Snakebite Film Festival.

害羞草研究所淲e were looking at funny stuff to do for a special. Our friend, Carl Meadows, held the Snakebite Film Festival a few weeks ago and we wanted to get rattlesnake for that night as a cross-promotion,害羞草研究所� said Carlson. 害羞草研究所淏ut Sysco can害羞草研究所檛 stock it anymore, it used to be something you could buy害羞草研究所� then we found the crocodile.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a farmed product out of Australia and what we害羞草研究所檙e using is the tail, so it害羞草研究所檚 a tail fillet.害羞草研究所�

Carlson said the meat comes frozen and staff only thaw as needed to preserve its freshness. He said this meat has surprising characteristics that one wouldn害羞草研究所檛 expect.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 actually really high in protein and super low in fat compared to chicken. It害羞草研究所檚 just one of those things that害羞草研究所檚 weird, so people don害羞草研究所檛 eat it. But it害羞草研究所檚 actually not as weird as you expect when you eat it,害羞草研究所� said Carlson. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very similar to halibut in flavour, but it害羞草研究所檚 kind of similar to catfish in texture. So it害羞草研究所檚 tougher when it害羞草研究所檚 raw, and the joke of it tasting like chicken is very true.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 why we designed the pizza as like a barbecue chicken pizza. Except it害羞草研究所檚 barbecue sauce, ranch, and croc害羞草研究所� If I didn害羞草研究所檛 tell you (it was crocodile), you probably wouldn害羞草研究所檛 notice.害羞草研究所�

All dough for Bad Tattoo pizzas is made fresh, in-house and Carlson said they make a simple thin crust to 害羞草研究所渇ocus on the toppings.害羞草研究所� A pizza takes about four minutes to fully cook in the restaurant害羞草研究所檚 pizza oven, another reason why thin crust is an advantage.

READ ALSO:

Carlson said the biggest challenge, aside from keeping the meat fresh, is overcooking. He explained that crocodile meat can dry out and become tough if it spends too long cooking, but because of the short cooking time in their oven they can avoid that.

害羞草研究所淚t kind of is the perfect cooking method for it. Goes on raw, comes out super quick so it stays tender,害羞草研究所� said Carlson. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 actually not that chewy because we cut it thin as well.害羞草研究所�

The crocodile meat is paired with a mild-spiced barbecue sauce, crunchy onions, cilantro, mozzarella cheese and poblano ranch. Carlson said this specialty pizza will be available 害羞草研究所渁ll spring and summer害羞草研究所� until the end of September until they switch back to their fall and winter menu.

Carlson said the crocodile pizza is best paired with a bitter IPA, but said any beer goes with pizza in general.

害羞草研究所淭his is definitely one of the weirdest ingredients we害羞草研究所檝e brought in, even in the process of getting it. No one carries crocs, so we had to get it special-ordered in,害羞草研究所� said Carlson. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 pretty expensive but it害羞草研究所檚 just too cool not to do it. And working with any raw product gives you that extra layer of challenge in cooking it. But I think it害羞草研究所檚 worth that challenge because it害羞草研究所檚 just such a unique item.

害羞草研究所淗ow often can you say you害羞草研究所檝e had something like crocodile?害羞草研究所�

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

Jordyn Thomson | Reporter
 
Send Jordyn Thomson an email.
Like the on
Follow us on