Subject: (Dirty) Ernies BBQ and Bar
From: loribeth
Date: 2/9/2020, 1:30 PM
To: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com
On 2/9/2020, loribeth wrote:
Famous restaurant on Federal Hwy in Ft Lauderdale closed several years ago.
Looking for the recipe for their conch chowder and Bimini bread.
If you could please.
Hi Loribeth,
I searched for these recipes previously with no success, and I had no better success today. See: 5-18-2015
There is an article about Ernie's here, with a conch chowder recipe that the author recommends
(not Ernie's): Sun-Sentinel
There's a Facebook page for Ernie's, and a post there says: "Ernie's classics will now be served
at the Floridian Restaurant at 1410 E Las Olas Blvd, Ft Lauderdale. Come by for your Bimini Bread,
conch chowder and BBQ served by your favorite waitresses we also feature a Full Liquor Bar open
24 hrs 365 days a year." See: Facebook - Ernie's
I saw more mentions of The Floridian in relation to Ernie's. Apparently, The Floridian is owned by
another member of the same family as Ernie's, and when Ernie's closed, much of Ernie's kitchen staff
moved to The Floridian and took Ernie's recipes with them. I don't know if The Floridian is still
open, but it was as recently as 1917. I searched, but could not find a recipe for The Floridian's
conch chowder or Bimini bread.
There are Bimini bread recipes on these sites:
Recipe Secrets
The Fresh Loaf
Peace and Bacon Grease
Phaed
4-03-2023
I worked at Ernie’s 78-80. I worked upstairs in the patio. From what
I remember their Bimini bread was real simple. They used Richs’ frozen
white bread dough. They let it thaw until you could roll it out into
about a 12 inch circle then sprinkled it with a liberal amount of white
sugar. Then they rolled it like a jelly roll, tucked the ends under and
put it in a loaf pan to proof then bake. They brushed the top with melted
margarine. It was best served warm from the oven.
Rev. Jim
Thanks, Jim!
Phaed
On 4/3/2023 5:57 PM, Jim wrote:
I hope it helps. I make it when I make conch chowder. It is exactly like Ernies.
I also worked at a place called Tugboat Annie’s and they made it the same way.
Jim
It would be nice to have that conch chowder recipe as well....
Phaed
On 4/3/2023 7:55 PM, Jim wrote:
I have it at work. I’ll send it tomorrow
Jim
Subject: Ernies Bimini bread.
From: Jim
Date: 4/4/2023, 7:31 AM
To: Phaedrus
image0.jpeg (conch chowder recipe)
This should be what you are looking for.
Jim
On Apr 4, 2023, at 5:23 AM, Phaedrus wrote:
Thanks, Jim!
Phaed
Conch Chowder
10# Diced Potatoes Par Boil
10# Celery diced saute lightly & set aside
10# Onion diced saute lightly & set aside
4# Bell Pepper diced saute lightly & set aside
5# Conch ground
1# Bacon Bits (cooked weight)
1 #10 can Tomato Puree
2 (2 oz btls) Tabasco
10# chopped clams with juice
24 each Bay Leaves
1 1/4oz White Pepper
1 1/4oz Thyme
1 #10 can crushed tomatoes - approx. 6.5#
16 #5 Clam Juice (Large pineapple juice size can - 46 oz)
1/2 btl Pernod (Licorice flavored liquor) 1/2 liter
2 - #10 cans Tomato Paste 7# per can x 2 = 14# total
No cooking instructions given - Simmer until conch is tender & done to taste?