The sea snail known as a conch (pronounced “konk”) has been so important in the culture and diet of the Bahamian-ancestored residents of Key West that they refer to themselves as Conchs and to their atoll as the Conch Republic. Conch chowder, made with chopped nuggets of the sweet marine meat, along with vegetables, a good measure of pepper and spice, and, perhaps, a shot of sherry, is now served throughout the Florida Keys. Harvested also for their beautiful shells, conchs are protected in U.S. waters but more plentiful in other areas of the Caribbean. Conch meat has long been considered an aphrodisiac.