An acceptable alternative?

I've never tried Flaherty's, but I approach all non-Connolly's batters with skepticism.

Aren't Tom and Jerry cartoon characters?  What the hell is that shit, anyway?

Connolly's Tom and Jerry batter IS Christmas. No batter, no Christmas.  Kind of like Vince Guaraldi.

Does Last Place on Earth sell any good legal alternative batters?

That Heavy Table article from last year said Mrs. Bowen was better than Flaherty's.  But then it also said that the Minnesota people who tested them liked Flaherty's better.  Less eggy.

I'm going to the Hammond Thursday night.  I'll report back on what they're using this year.

Try the Pickwick's...at least I assume they're still selling it.

I'd rather make my own than patronize some non-Connolly's phony.

The Wick is still selling T&J's under new ownership.  Had one last week and it was good. Frothy.  Boozy.

I think Flaherty's is the best

I haven't been back to Duluth in many years, but back in the 1960s and early '70s Teve's Tom and Jerry batter was considered the best at that time.

Teve's was a bar and grill in the West End dating back to the '40s, if my memory is correct.

The Hammond's using Mrs. B.

Teve was my Dad's uncle, and he had the batter made for him at Connolly's Bakery in Superior.  They took it over later with just their name on it.  Not exactly sure when Connolly's closed and Upper Lakes Foods started distributing it.

I'm not sure when Upper Lakes Foods bought the recipe, but Connolly's Bakery closed in the mid-1980s.