Gillett Coon Supper: What Does Coon Taste Like?
Oh, the places this blogging adventure has taken me. Last night it was to Gilllett, Arkansas for my first taste of coon. It was one of the most unique political experiences I have ever had and will most certainly be the focus of my next column. But in the meantime enjoy this in depth research I did on the taste of coon.
Opinions were all over the map.
“It taste like coon,” said U.S. Rep. Marion Berry, who is from Gillett and basically serves as the de facto host. “It’s a cross between really good barbequed pork and ham.”
“It’s a little strong and you can get a little grease on it if you are not careful,” said Gov. Mike Beebe. “It’s different but it part of the tradition.”
Both Gov. Beebe and Lieutenant Gov. Bill Halter agree that it is best covered in barbeque sauce. Potential Republican opponent Mark Darr said that it is “somewhere between chicken and pork.”
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said it is an “infrequent” taste. “Once a year you take a good nibble of it for the cause.”
U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor sort of dodged the question but said that in his opinion “It is all about the fellowship.”
“It’s like a good rib eye steak,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Ross. “It’s an Arkansas tradition.”
“It tastes a lot like bear,” said State Rep. Mark Martin, who is a potential Republican candidate for Secretary of State. Pulaski County Clerk and potential Democratic candidate Pat O’Brien said, “It is a gamy slitherly animal” and he would prefer a McDonald’s quarterpounder.
“It depends of how good a year the crop has been,” said State Sen. Shane Broadway, who gave me the invite and ride to the supper. “But if they smoked it just right it’s pretty good but it does not taste like chicken.”
Of all the views, I have to most agree with Miss Arkansas 2009 Sarah Slocum who like me was tasting coon for the first time. With a surprised face, she declared, “It’s not as bad as I thought it would be…It’s kind of like roast.” I agree with both.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I enjoyed the video. I believe it was a great time had by all and I enjoyed it being the beginning of a yearly tradition.
January 9th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Jason, I lost you in the crowd when it was over. Good seeing you again. Gina and I tried the coon and thought it wasn’t too bad! Had a great time and we felt very welcome.
January 9th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Mark Martin…lol… He wont raise $100,000
January 11th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
It’s great to see everybody their. Coon is like Arkansas Politics,
All The difference in the world.
January 11th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Great video. It’s almost as good as being there (though just not as tasty…)
But I was wondering…if this is one of the biggest political events in Arkansas that politicians “miss at their own peril”, why didn’t more of the GOP Senate candidates attend? Unless, I missed something, the only one I saw mention of attending was Fred Ramey. I know Blanche was there.
I heard anecdotally that the coon supper was more a “Democratic” event (which I don’t quite understand…unless it just means that most of the local/state politicians happen to be Democrats) but with virtually all the Republican candidates (even some minor ones) beating Blanche in the polls, wouldn’t they think to show up at this major event for some politickin?
Do the Republican Senate candidates just assume that most of the folks who attend are from the Gillett area and most of them are going to be voting in the Democrat primary next year? Still, when I look out at that crowd who attended it does not look like what you’d call a Democrat crowd, then again for some weird reason rural conservative whites in Arkansas still vote Democrat…
January 13th, 2010 at 8:46 am
No one has any thoughts on my questions above? It is just hard to find info on the Coon Supper online, and I’ve never been.