Lum's Ollieburger

Actually, the Ollie burger started way before Lums. For old timers on Miami Beach, when we used to leave campus from Beach High for lunch there were 2 goto restaurants, Ollie's and Maria's Sandwich Shop. Ollie only made the Ollie burger. Never shared the recipe but rumor has it that there were over 100 spices. He sold the recipe to Lums in either the late 70s or early 80's. I don't remember much about high school but I do remember the Ollie Burger.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with Brad and add a plug for Dennis ("Director of Operations"). I searched far and wide for the Ollie Burger recipe, tried this one awhile back but it was not close enough to review as an Ollie Burger. I got the entire collections of spices from Dennis for Ollie Burgers, Ollie Fries, Roast Chicken, Roast Beef and the directions of the hot dogs steamed in beer -- thus far I have only tried the Ollie Burgers and Fries (as has my British wife and my parents). My parents and I both agree that the Ollie Burgers with the Bun sauce are EXACTLY what we remember and are incredible. My wifie says it's the best "beef burger" she's ever had (although her british taste buds didn't appreciate the ollie fries....sorry Dennis!). I DID THOUGH! This recipe by Lexie does make a pretty good tasting burger - but alas, if it's an Ollie Burger you're after you're only going to find it from Dennis and only as long as he is able to provide it to us....and then I'm pretty sure we'll have to do without unless Dennis passes on his place of purchase to some one else to carry on the legacy of what I think is the best hamburger on the planet. The recipe posted here is a partial recipe from http://ollieburger.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/the-worlds-greatest-hamburger/ which is yet another attempt to try and duplicate the Ollie Burger... The full recipe they list is below... but alas, it's not the same! DRY INGREDIENTS* 1/4 C Sugar 2 tbsp Paprika ¼ tsp Turmeric ½ tsp Onion Powder 1 tsp Ground Coriander ½ tsp Cornstarch 1 tbsp Ground Celery Seed 1 tbsp Ground Cumin 1 tbsp Garlic Powder 2 tsp Fennel Seed 1 tbsp Crushed Red Pepper ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper 2 EA Crushed Beef Bouillon Cubes LIQUID INGREDIENTS* 6 tbsp Lemon Juice 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp Soy Sauce 2 tbsp Steak Sauce (A-1) 2 tsp Vegetable Oil 2 tsp Heinz 57 Sauce 2 tsp Cider Vinegar BUN SAUCE* ¼ cup Miracle Whip ¼ cup mayonnaise 2 tbsp orange, French dressing ½ tsp sweet relish 2 tsp dill pickle relish 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp dried, minced onion 1 tsp white vinegar 1 tsp ketchup 2 tbsp prepared Ollie Seasoning Marinade 1 tsp Montreal Steak Seasoning

I worked for Lum's at Red & Bird Rd area just down the street from Welsh's Drug Store when I was in high school 1973-1974. I was the short-order cook and remember the Store GM (Danny, I believe was his name; had a cruss on his daughter) was excited that Lum's bought the recipe and introduced the proceedure to prepare & cook thus master piece. This was before the company pulverized the ingredients. The seeds of some spices were obvious and I could have sworn seeing a rye seed mixed in that patty and over heard Danny say there was more than one meat ground together. And that sauce we put on the patty was a thick black spicy sauce before we melted the slice of cheese on it. Those 1st customers who tried it were coming up to the counter jumping in their shoes saying, "Wow! What is in that hamburger?" Interested in trying this recipe out. Marsh

I agree that this is not the Ollie Burger recipe by a long shot. I grew up on Miami Beach and went to Beach High. A couple of blocks from the school was an original Ollie's burger joint. The burgers had tons of flavor from lots of different spices, most of which are not part of this recipe. I am afraid that list of spices are lost forever.

I was eating what I called Lum Burgers at LUM's from 1966-1970 several times a week while in college at FAU in Boca Raton, FL. The Lum Burger recipes here don't jibe with anything I remember. I don't recall ever eating a patty style burger at Lums. They offered a sloppy joe styled sandwich on a yellow onion seed roll which we all knew as the "Lum Burger." It was amazing. Typical college student - one night after an FAU cafeteria meal, we ended up at Lums' about two hours later. Where upon and on top of the previous and obviously less than satisfying dinner, I ordered and ate six Lum burgers - barbecue poor boy sandwich - each including its own basket with a heaping mound of crispy fries - very similar to MacD's serves now. Thin can crispy. Yum. So, I was mystified to discover almost 50 years later that Lums even sold a hamburger patty type burger. Would love to have their barbecue poor boy sandwich recipe.