Meet the trio behind Evangeline’s Bistro & Music House

Though Christmas is long gone, the good cheer remains at Evangeline's Bistro and Music House which opened early in December at 512 N. Euclid. Partners Maggie Ducey, above, Don Bailey, below left, and Maggie's dad Tim, below right are, like all restaurateurs, extremely passionate about the business, and it shows.

Maggie was enrolled in the culinary program at Forest Park Community College while also getting hands-on experience working in the kitchen at Don's restaurant, EurOrleans, in Millstadt IL. She's now the kitchen manager at Evangeline's. Don has been in the restaurant business for 18 years, and is the inspiration behind the French Creole menu at the restaurant. Don volunteered in Baton Rouge, LA following Hurricane Katrina and learned French Creole recipes while working with a group of church ladies feeding storm victims. The Duceys also have family ties in Louisiana.

When Don, Maggie and Tim decided to follow their dream and open a French Creole restaurant in St. Louis, they began the search for the perfect place. Nothing screamed "this is our place," according to Maggie, more than the corner location in the historic Pierce Arrow Building at the corner of Euclid & Washington.

Since the Evangeline's crew comes from small, close-knit communities in Illinois, they hope to establish the same kinds of friendships & relationships in the CWE, which they feel has its own small-town vibe.

Maggie considers her father, Tim Ducey, upper right, her mentor and inspiration. He is also the restaurant's accountant and crisis manager. You may have met Tim while he was on the ladder, shown in the photograph, painting the outside of the building this past fall.

Evangeline's is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week and, for now, serves the same menu all day long. That way customers know what to expect and also know that prices won't go up when the sun goes down. The food (see menu here) is prepared to order in the French Creole style, with richer sauces and not as much spice as Haitian-inspired Cajun food. Evangeline's delicious Championship Gumbo, shown above, is $10 for a half order (plenty for lunch or light dinner), $15 for a full order. In a couple of weeks Don plans to add new items to the menu including blackened red snapper, carmelized duck breast, an oyster po' boy, and regular and Cajun burgers served with homemade Southern cherry pickles.

Evangeline's offers a vegetarian menu, as well as a kid's menu featuring chicken fingers, grilled cheese and other simple fare with choice of sides, $7.

Sunday brunch will be served starting in early March, after Fat Tuesday. Don recently traveled to New Orleans to work with Emeril Lagasse and brought back Lagasse's recipes for beignets & stuffed French toast. Don and Maggie are also planning to serve savory pain perdu, omelets, chicory coffee oatmeal, and Strawberries Jubilee. Entertainment during brunch (from 11 to 3) will feature Miss Jubilee & the Humdingers, who performed at the late Rue Lafayette in Lafayette Square.

Evangeline's has an extensive selection of local beer on tap, including examples from Urban Chestnut, Four Hands and Schlafly, as well as a large offering of bottled beers. There is also a cocktail list. During daily Happy Hour selected champagne cocktails are specially priced at $5.

Live music is a regular feature at Evangeline's. Don Bailey plays in a band and has ties to the local music scene. Check out the event calendar (and the blog listing on the right-hand side of the page), for who's on tap. The music ranges across Folk, Americana, Classic Jazz & Blues. For a change of pace this Friday, February 21st, actor Dan Hicks will be at Evangeline's from 8 to 10 p.m. premiering his latest film, Stalking BigFoot. His previous movies include Evil Dead II and Spiderman-2.  Admission is $15 and includes a copy of the movie.

Evangeline's Bistro & Music House, 512 N. Euclid, open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. everyday (kitchen closes at midnight), (314) 367-3644.