South Florida Food 50: Trudy Ellis of The Bahamian Pot

Trudy Ellis, chef-owner of The Bahamian Pot

Why she’s Food 50: Runs one of the best Bahamian restaurants outside of Nassau.

Every time the Miami episode of The Layover with Anthony Bourdain airs on TV, a new wave of customers flocks to The Bahamian Pot in Liberty City. Chef-owner Trudy Ellis isn’t complaining about getting her 15 minutes. She moved her restaurant last year and tweaked the menu, adding waffles with fried chicken and okra steamed with tomato, onions and butter. A native of Nassau, Ellis came to South Florida to study nursing and worked as a private duty nurse for years. When she realized there were no Bahamian restaurants here, she opened hers in 1988, deciding to nourish souls rather than nurture as a nurse.

We endorse her decision, same as we do her big bowls of stewed conch, her boil fish made with bone-in grouper steak, her barbecue chicken with rice and pies, and her tender oxtails with collard greens. Save room for sweet potato cake or rum cake, fine finishing dishes on Ellis’ island of Bahamian culinary pleasures.

Where to find her: The Bahamian Pot, 6301 NW Sixth Ave., Miami; 305-759-3408.

Web: facebook.com/thebahamianpot

Twitter: @TheBahamianPot

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 4:00 AM with the headline "South Florida Food 50: Trudy Ellis of The Bahamian Pot."