Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
Ellen Korbin purchased property in 2005 on Citrus Tower Blvd. and built the Café Boquett Restaurant featuring gourmet foods and coffees from around the world. Unfortunately, when the economy took a downward spiral, she had no choice but to sell the building and close the restaurant. She teased the buyer not to remove the walk-in cooler, the hood and vent system in case she returned. To her gratitude, when the building came on the market, Korbin jumped at the opportunity to return, bringing Clermont Ellie Lou’s Brews and BBQ, to the location. This is the second Ellie Lou’s BBQ; the first located in Ocoee. When COVID-19 hit, she faced a major unfortunate downturn going from 92 to 12 employees. With all of the big personal and business challenges at hand, Korbin amazingly took the risk to open again in Clermont. She quickly hired back some of her former employees and provided new employment for others.
Ellen Korbin is originally from Meridian, Mississippi, yet grew up in Virginia. Her mom was a terrific cook and her father had a law degree. With a self-described ‘blessed life’, she has continued to take on many risks, challenges and opportunities with endless optimism. Korbin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Psychology. She loves to help inspire others to become successfully self-sufficient and pleased with themselves. She notes that she has loved all of her career experiences. She and her mom were unfortunately involved in a terrible hit and run accident after moving here to Florida, that changed her life. Due to injuries, she could not work. She lost her home, marriage …just about everything. Despite these challenges, she started over in order to survive.
Korbin and her son started a small Hill of Beans cappuccino food cart business at the Orange County Convention Center in 1993. In 1995, they were invited to be one of the first private food cart vendors at Disney’s EPCOT serving funnel cakes. They have been privileged to expand their business at both locations over the years. In 1996, her oldest son Leigh came to visit to help their rapid growth and he never left. He became Vice President and Director of Operations. She notes, “I could not have done any of this without the support of my sons, Chef Dennis, as well as support from so many good people. Visit Ellen Korbin to learn more.
Chef Dennis Cheplick joined the team in 2010 as Executive Chef creating new menus for all of their food service locations. He became the true inspiration for starting to expand with the barbecue recipes, BBQ menus, made from scratch sauces, rubs and side dishes. Korbin adds, Chef Dennis never ceases to amaze us! His creative and expert culinary skills are what makes Ellie Lou’s so successful!”
Chef Dennis is a Suma Cum Laude graduate of the prestigious Johnson & Wales University. He helped run Chef’s Table Delicatessen, a family-style restaurant business, in Clermont for 8 years. He was formerly a prestigious chef for Walt Disney World from 1989 to 2010. His business card says, “I rub the butts!” He expressed how proud he is to have worked closely with Ellen Korbin as well as with General Manager Jeff Wojciechowicz – who ‘wrangles the herd’, Director Jeanne Harbin – ‘who writes the checks’ and their entire team.
Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ is best known for their St. Louis Style Ribs, specialty sandwiches, chopped BBQ dishes, family fixins’ and side dishes. Everything is made completely from scratch with fresh high-quality foods and their very own recipes. Ellie’s Favorites include a delicious Loaded Baker, BBQ Cobb Salad and Pit Boss Nachos. The 5-cheese mac n’ cheese is really fabulous! Their Signature Sauces include Kansas City Sweet, Memphis, Carolina Gold and Southern Lava – all made from scratch. They even have a Lil’ Rascal’s Menu for children and for those over 65 as well as plenty more on their a la carte menu. I personally loved trying three different barbecue sandwiches with brisket, turkey and pork, while taste testing all of the sauces. The food really does melt in your mouth and the diverse flavor varieties are quite distinctive. The turkey, brisket and meats are all amazingly tender, flavorful and moist with layered flavors. They even have some special menu items using Florida Craft Beers such as Coffee Porter BBQ Sauce Braised Burnt Ends and Lager Flavored Bratwurst. They also offer homemade desserts. For a full menu review, visit their website.
Ellen Korbin shares, “We believe that you must start with a quality product and quality food services. We don’t take any shortcuts. We make sure that from start to finish, we use the best fresh high-quality ingredients that are consistent with our BBQ methods. All of our meats and sauces are gluten-free as are some of our side dishes and desserts. We offer a vegan option called ‘Oumph’. It is a shredded soy protein product that we season with our Kansas City BBQ Sauce. Oumph has a taste and texture similar to chicken. We serve Coke products and craft beers mainly from here in Florida including some from Clermont’s Suncreek Brewery.”
Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ Parties, Events & Specialty Catering Services: They hold a Tap Takeover every third Friday of the month with a Florida Craft Brewery. They have experience catering small family and business events to anniversaries, birthdays, weddings and much more with full-service buffets. They have successfully catered for 800 for Southwest Airlines, thousands for Disney events and 4000 people for Amazon. They actively work with numerous local community groups and organizations on fundraisers and catering projects. They continue to support our community while working with Clermont Schools as a Partner in Education.
Ellie’s Extras: They offer take-out, pick-up and delivery services. They do offer gift cards and have a Loyalty Rewards Program. Ellie Lou’s has been awarded ‘Best Barbecue’ by the Winter Garden Rants & Raves for 5 years in a row as well as ‘Best Entrée’ by Taste of South Lake. Ellie Lou’s is open 7 days a week! They are open Sundays to Thursdays from 11 AM to 8 PM as well as Fridays and Saturdays from 11 AM to 9 PM. Their family-friendly style and décor is simple, comfortable and fun with an array of humorous signs that will always make you smile.
Korbin feels her life has been a Cinderella story that has been 27 years in the making. She adds, “I am forever grateful to my staff, customers and to all those who have made us what we are today. I look forward to adding more staff to our ‘Family’ and to graciously serving our guests for years to come.” She shares a Greek philosopher’s quote that inspires her, “It’s the things in life that I didn’t do that I regret the most”. She intends to love life and to leave this world with few regrets. She wants to personally and professionally leave this world as a better place. Serving delicious quality food is my way of showing love, while hopefully making someone’s life better in some way. She is a believer in subtle and random acts of kindness. She notes, “Our motto is “We’ll rub you the right way!” That is a goal she and her team strive for in all of her businesses all of the time.
Ellie Lou’s BBQ Clermont is located at 1391 Citrus Tower Boulevard near Highway 50 in Clermont, FL 34711. Phone: 352-708-6095. Their second location is at 336 Moore Road in Ocoee, FL 34761, phone: 407-347-9515. Email: Catering@EllieLous.com. Visit: www.EllieLous.com. Like and follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/EllieLousClermont/
