If you live anywhere in Norfolk County it’s likely you know what Celery Bread is. The recipe originated at the Erie Beach Hotel in Port Dover and is a favourite with locals. It’s still served today and is pretty much mandatory if you’re having a fish fry. But there’s one surprising ingredient that’s missing.
The reason this bread is so good is because…THERE’S NO CELERY IN IT! That’s right, no celery. Does anyone even eat celery? I mean, if there’s a veggie and dip tray at a party, what’s going to be left for last? Celery. But celery seed, that’s a totally different ballgame.
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I’ve heard lots of crazy ideas about their secret to making this amazing Celery Bread. I’ve been told they dip the entire loaf in melted butter. I was told they use margarine with paprika instead of butter. And someone even tried to tell me they were deep fried. Thankfully I got the true story from the experts. The people who actually make Celery Bread.
How to make Celery Bread
You need an unsliced loaf of white bread, preferably as square as possible. Day old is fine, in fact it’s even easier to cut when it’s not too fresh. Cut the crust off all four sides and the top and bottom. Don’t worry about the bread left behind that’s been cut off. It’s perfect for Stuffing. Just cut the pieces into cubes and freeze them for another time.
Cut the loaf into thick chunks. Typically a full loaf makes about 8 pieces of celery bread. Cut it in half lengthwise, then in half crosswise, then cut those sections in half. Sometimes it’s hard to get perfect cubes if your loaf isn’t square. But they taste the same no matter what shape they are!
Melt butter and stir in celery seeds. Brush all exposed sides of the bread with the butter mixture. I like to sprinkle a little extra celery seed onto the bread if there’s some areas that don’t have much. Use about 1/4 cup of butter and 2 tsp of celery seed per loaf. Either unsalted or salted butter is fine, depending on your sodium level preference. If you’re making a lot of celery bread, I got an inside tip from a local Celery Bread maker. Melt the butter and pour it into a shallow baking pan. Then dip the bread cubes in the melted butter on each side. It’s much faster than brushing each one individually.
You can also spread room temperature butter on all sides of each piece and sprinkle with celery seed. Any of the methods give you pretty similar results.
How does the Erie Beach Hotel make Celery Bread?
So according to the expert, Pam, who has kindly given us the true method in the comments after this post, prepare the pieces in advance, wrap them tightly and refrigerating them over night. Then stand the pieces up in a dish and bake in a hot oven. Let the pieces fall open so more sides are exposed to the heat. Watch them carefully and in about 10 minutes you’ll have perfect golden brown Celery Bread. Plan on everyone eating at least 2 pieces and serve it right away, it’s best hot.
Celery Bread goes great with Cornmeal Crusted Crappie. In fact, no fish fry is complete without it. So if you can’t make it to the Erie Beach Hotel in Port Dover, Ontario, making your own at home is like a trip down memory lane.
Enjoy!
Celery Bread
Ingredients
- 1 unsliced loaf of white bread choose one as square as possible
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 tsp celery seed plus extra for sprinkling
Instructions
- Cut crust off all sides of bread including the bottom. Slice lengthwise through the middle, then into sections ending with about 8 cubes.
- Melt butter. Stir in celery seeds.
- Brush liberally over all surfaces of each cube. Sprinkle more celery seed over any areas that have little seeds.
- Put bread cubes back into plastic bag and seal up tightly. Refrigerate over night or at least all day for best results.
- Arrange cubes in a bundle in a baking dish. Allow them to fall open to expose as much area as possible.
- Bake on the centre rack of a preheated oven at 400° for about 10 minutes or until bread is lightly toasted.
Wow! This sounds so yummy! I have never had celery bread!
Oh Marion! You don’t know what you are missing!
It is the best. Along with the perch and pickrel. Now that is a meal.
I agree. I also secretly love the deep fried vegetables and cheese. Not the healthiest menu item but what the heck, right?
I love the Erie Beach Hotel. I usually get the fried veggie/cheese and shrimp meal with extra celery Bread so good
I love the fried veggie and cheese plate! Hey, it’s vegetables right? lol
If you put the bread in the freezer for 30 minutes it makes it a lot easier for cutting. Also, you can melt the butter and “paint” it on. They can also be finished on a bbq but watch them and turn them. John
Thanks for that tip John! Great idea to freeze the bread. I’ve used melted butter sometimes, it’s probably the better way to do it actually.
I love it. Had it many times
I’ve never heard of it before sounds great
It’s so easy and so good!
Marjorie Schneider, founder of the Erie Beach Hotel is the creator of the famous celery bread. Her recipe has several small details that make all the difference in the world.
After removing the crust from an unsliced sandwich loaf, cut the bread into approx 10-12 chunks. Brush all sides with melted butter and celery seed, wrap into loaf shape and refrigerate overnight. Place bread tipped up onto a pie plate with plenty of space between pieces for lots of browning in a 400 oven ….enjoy.
Thank you SO much! I’ve been told there was paprika added and they only used margarine. I didn’t believe it! I’m going to make it this way next time.
Thanks Gay….so informative. Its almost like you were in the kitchen when she imvented it
Fond memories
Me too. Very nostalgic. The celery bread is what I looked forward to as a child.
Can someone tell me what the bread is. It says sandwich bread, but can it be bakery white bread?
Yes plain white bakery bread is perfect! Unsliced, look for a loaf that’s as square as possible.
The founder of the Erie Beach Hotel was NOT the original creator of celery bread. The recipe came from Loree Moores, who got the recipe from her mother-in-law, my grandmother. The owner was friends with my parents and after several town gatherings, where my mom took celery bread to serve, and after much good-hearted begging, my mom gave in and gave them the recipe.
That’s so awesome that you shared that story! So many people owe your mom a debt of gratitude for sharing her recipe!! Thank you so much!
I beg to differ , in the Old Wallaceburg Inn where my mother was chief cook and bottle washer , they used to serve tarragon bread on their menu , when they ran out of tarragon , she had to resort to celery seed, the rest is History ❤️
Wow, I have to say I’ve never heard of Tarragon Bread! Was it made the same way? Sprinkled on and baked?
Nice! I’ve been making celery bread for about 35 years! I’ve added ground celery seed powder to my bread dough when making from scratch! The bread plus the buttery celery soak afterwards is to die for! I do the soak and refrigerate the same as described in this recipe.
Sometimes I add a wee bit of garlic powder and onion powder to the buttery mix when having a stew.
Sometimes I add a sprinkling of melted cheese, parsley and chives when having spaghetti.
Wow I’m salivating right now thinking about your celery bread versions! Thanks for sharing!
As owner of the Erie Beach Hotel I can tell you that deep frying is not a good idea unless you want a grease filled soggy bun.
Ours is baked in the oven at high temps. Leave the deep frying for the fish. Cheers
Yours is definitely the BEST! I can’t imagine deep fried bread.
Two thumbs up Pam.
Thank you so much! I retired and moved to Mexico so miss my Erie Beach terribly. Now I can at least have the celery seed bread.
Wow, sounds like not a bad place to retire to!
Me too!
But do you do gluten free? The celery bread is amazing and the main reason we go to Port Dover. What’s a visit without perch and celery bread? Now…I have celiac, and celery bread and deep fried cannot be on my list!! ?
I haven’t tried this with anything other than plain white bread. If you try it with gluten free bread, let me know how it works out. It might be a bit heavy but hopefully tastes pretty good. I feel terrible for you and others who suffer with Celiac.
You could try it with cornbread that you make without the white wheat flour. Also there are some good gluten free potato bread recipes that are close to the white bread.
Hi Margaret. I’m not celiac, but very sensitive to gluten. This is THE BEST gluten-free bread recipe I’ve found. It actually folds without breaking!! Makes great French toast as well! I’m definitely going to try it for the celery bread…it’s been ages since I’ve been to Erie Beach! https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/best-gluten-free-bread-recipe-ever/
Good luck!
I grew up in Delhi Ontario and he was always a treat to go to Erie Beacb Hotel for perch, pickerel and no other than Celery Bread!!! I now reside in North Carolina and I cannot tell you how excited I was to see this recipe ❤️ Thank you so much! A taste of home once again. Now if I can figure out the trick to the French fry wagons and their gravy, I will be set!!
It’s always nice to be reminded of home! I loved the chip stands with malt vinegar on the fries!
Most fry trucks Blanche their fries before deep frying. It’s the secret to the best fries at Swiss Chalet as well. Simply cut your fries from peeled potatoes and boil for few minutes. For optimal results let them cool down and even refrigerate prior to deep frying. Twice cooked and oh so yummy. You can purchase either st huberts sauce or Swiss chalet sauce for dipping !! Enjoy
You’re exactly right about blanching fries! We are lucky to have a commercial deep fryer so instead of boiling, we fry our fresh cut fries at a lower temperature, say 300 – 325 ish for a few minutes, just until they start to show some colour, then drain and let them get cold. Then we just have to finish them at a higher temp, 375 ish for a few minutes until brown. My understanding is the blanching starts the cooking process and allows the potatoes to be cooked through, resulting in soft interior with a crispy exterior after the second frying. The boiling should basically accomplish the same thing. Thanks for the tip!
I went there for the first time last summer. I fell in love with the town and with your restaurant! I had never even heard of celery bread! Now I cant wait to go back and have it again!
I wish it was my restaurant! But I live locally and can enjoy celery bread any time.
Can’t wait to try this. As a sailor who’s visited Port Dover many times over the years I can tell you that two of my favorite restaurants of all time are right next door to each other! I’ve not been back to PD for several years, but I’m dying for some Erie Beach perch. It’s the best I’ve ever had.
There’s nothing like Lake Erie Perch with Celery Bread! Hope you get back to Port Dover soon.
Ordered dinner there tonight. I’m so glad for the curbside pickup during the shutdown. The perch melted in my mouth but it was the celery bread that brings back so many childhood memories for me. It was my grandparents favorite place to eat. I pinned the recipe to try from home but my guess is it will never be quite the same as the original!
No, you’re right, it’s not quite the same at home. I can’t wait for that rooftop patio to open….some day….
Thanks for sharing. Do you use regular bread or egg bread may I ask?
I use plain regular white bread. Look for an unsliced loaf as square as possible.
Thank you for the recipe, this is awesome ! I was just saying we need some Erie Beach celery bread for our perch fry tonight, having company in Port Stanley and they will be so impressed as they too grew up on, and are so fond of the Erie Beach celery bread!
We just had dinner at the Erie Beach the other night. They have a new rooftop patio. It’s awesome! I managed to control myself and only eat one piece of celery bread but honestly I could probably eat 5 or 6!
Looks scrumptious! I will definitely make your celery bread to accompany homemade Italian soup.
I’m actually working on a recipe for Italian Wedding Soup!
Going to the Lighthouse Theatre and lunch at the Erie Beach Hotel. Can’t wait to try the celery bread. Thanks for putting the information on the net everyone was asking what it was. I was thinking of bread with celery in it.
The Lighthouse Theatre is awesome, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. And yes, there’s no celery in Celery Bread, thankfully! haha.
I have had the Erie Perch and celery bread there many time in my life, as I lived in Norwich and when I was young, my father would go to Port Dover for fresh fish, and we would go the the Erie Beach Hotel for dinner, a best kept secret in Ontario. Love it!
We’re so lucky to share this secret! Did you know they now have a rooftop patio?
Thanks for the recipe. My grandma (Sarah Lavers) worked in the kitchen of the Erie Beach for many years and would make the celery bread for our Christmas dinner. She would never tell us how she made it. Her little secret.
Thanks again
Lynn
That’s awesome Lynn, thanks for the story. I never thought about celery bread for Christmas dinner! I could eat celery bread with every meal.
Also good to do up in electric frying pan to toast all sides, just keep turning till nicely browned.
Yes, sometimes I do that if I’m only making a few pieces. That way every piece is perfectly browned on all sides!
Yeah, but you have to go out and buy celery seeds! These are not something I usually have “on hand!”
True, not everyone has an unlimited pantry. Good excuse to visit the Erie Beach Hotel and enjoy the real deal!
Mrs. Schneider’s pickled pumpkin was also outstanding.
Dawn, that’s so funny, I remember all the salads they used to serve in the lower restaurant. Particularly the jellied salad with horseradish. But I don’t remember picked pumpkin.
I love the pickled pumpkin. I believe they gave out recipes , but not sure if they do now.Also love their bean salad and I have the recipe that I make for special occasions along with the horseradish salad, cucumber salad on a card that I picked up years ago. Love those dishes.
I loved the lemon jello square. I think the base was horseradish
Yes, it’s jello, horseradish and whipped cream. I’ve got the recipe on here as well, if you search under salads or enter horseradish in the search bar you’ll find it!
So you dont cut all the way thru the loaf? How do you make it stand up?
Well, I’ve tried leaving the loaf intact at the bottom so it does help it stand up, also using a dish that has sides so it holds it all in but I admit, it’s a challenge. The real way I believe is the pieces are cut right through. I did find when I didn’t cut right through the bottom that you lose part of the bread when you tear the piece off and the bottom isn’t browned and crispy. That’s a downer, you don’t want to waste a single crumb of this and the more surface area toasted the better.
from what i read yes you do you cut it length ways into thick strips and stand them up in a dish. you will have a more in there so they will stand up Hope this helps
Yes, you’re right, thanks! If you get enough pieces in the dish they do stand up better. It’s helpful if they flop open a bit to expose more area for browning.
I was there on Oct 7 With my cousins from Vegas .Her & husband was married there& their reception there.The celery bread, pickled pumpkin ,& fish was to die for .
They have a new rooftop patio but maybe it was closed for the season then.
The pickled pumpkin recipe is available on line – just google search Erie Beach Pickled Pumpkin recipe. It was one of my Dad’s favourites.
Thanks! I’m sure lots of people are going to be searching for that recipe now.
Well YIPPPEEEEEEEE! Having lived in the area for awhile, but been out west now for longer than I care to count, I’m super excited that this has been shared. Three cheers for the Erie Beach Hotel. Now those of us who live ‘away’ can remember the good times…and even though I’ve pretty much sworn off bread, this recipe will change that!
Yes, it’s pretty hard to resist!
Lived on celery bread made by Mrs. Schneider for 55 years.
The pickled pumpkin ,her recipe is excellent also.
Though they both have past away, the family continues to keep this great tradition as well as the dinnerware
Lynda Robinson-Rosser
Family makes an annual pilgrimage to Simcoe Panarama, always started with a visit to the Erie Beach Hotel’s Cove Room for four important things: the celery bread, the pickled pumpkin, the pickerel and don’t forget the ambrosia!!
Oh right, the ambrosia. I’d forgotten about that salad!
I prepared some celery bread for tonights meal of perch and fries, but there is only 2 of us, so I don’t need the whole loaf for one meal. I would like to freeze the unused portions. Do I freeze them before baking or after?
I would definitely freeze them uncooked. In the very very rare case where we didn’t eat all the celery bread, we found they aren’t as good reheated. I’ve popped them in a wide slice toaster or quickly broiled them but it’s not the same as fresh hot celery bread!
Thank you. Great information and quick responses.
Wow. I experienced the Erie Beach Hotel when I first got married in 1995 and fell in love with the Celery Bread. I have actually googled this recipe several times and never found it! I am grateful for Facebook and that this post was shared because now I can finally try it at home in BC.
This sounds delicious! I bet Pimento cheese baked or spread on Celery Bread would be fabulous. Going to try this myself.
I think any combo of cheese and bread is perfect!
Am I missing something, or are the measurements of the ingredients missing?
I know it is butter (I’m assuming salted) and celery seeds, but how much of each?
Hi Vincent, I did mention it at the end of the post but I’ve added it in another spot as well so it’s easier to find. I didn’t use the typical recipe format but since you’re the second person to ask I will update so it’s more obvious! I use about 1/4 cup butter and 1 tsp celery seed for each full loaf. Usually salted butter but it probably doesn’t matter since bread has enough salt in it already.
This is a part of my childhood I had forgotten all about. I remember walking barefoot through town to the beach for this!! It’s been a long time since I have visited Dover. I will have to make a trip soon. Thanks Marci for reminding me of happier times ❤️
I’m so glad you came across this post! Did you see the recipe for Horseradish Salad? They served it downstairs in the Cove Room from the salad cart.
Our family have been going to Erie Beach Hotel for a number of years now. I was surprised to learn that it is baked and not fried. This recipe does not disappoint. Nailed it!
Isn’t it great when you find out you can make it yourself? But it’s always best at the restaurant with Perch!