The bayous of Louisiana have come to Knoxville with Saint Lucille's Kitchen serving up authentic Cajun and Creole dishes next to Crafty Bastard Brewing.
The restaurant is a collaboration between Last Days of Autumn Brewing owners Michael and Tracy Frede and Crafty Bastard's owner Aaron McClain. The three have known each other for nearly a decade, and McClain has wanted to open a full restaurant in Emory Place just north of downtown since he opened Crafty Bastard in 2015.
When the space at 8 Emory Place became available in September, McClain jumped at the opportunity. He brought the Fredes in to start the counter service restaurant, which Michael Frede named after his friend's grandmother, Saint Lucille.
"I do the food. He does the beer. It kind of works out for the two of us," Michael Frede said.
Saint Lucille's Kitchen quietly opened May 18, and the owners are planning a grand opening June 1.
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Bringing authentic Cajun and Creole food to fill the 'vacuum' in Knoxville
The owners had three things to say about the food: Authentic, authentic, authentic.
The very first customers seated were Louisiana transplants to Knoxville. They had a bottle of Crystal Hot Sauce ready and open for the "bland" food they thought would come out of Saint Lucille's Kitchen.
"He said he never touched the bottle," Frede said.
The menu features Frede's twists on Cajun and Creole classics including chicken and sausage gumbo, red beans and rice, praline cream cheese spread, blue crabcake sandwich and roasted cauliflower po'boy. If he had to pick one, Frede's favorite dish is the andouille po'boy.
"Honestly, it's one of the first menus I've ever created where I really like everything on the menu. I don't have anything that I really dislike," Frede said.
The only dish over $16 is the whole muffuletta sandwich at $19. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, too.
Many of the ingredients are shipped from Louisiana, including the andouille sausage from Cochon Butcher, red beans from Camellia Beans and bread from Gambino's Bakery.
And don't worry, the dishes are spicy.
"There's a big vacuum in Knoxville for this kind of food," Frede said. The two other Cajun restaurants in the area are Fred Beans & Rice at Knox Brew Hub and Storming Crab on Kingston Pike.
Crafty Bastard supplies the beer, including an exclusive French pilsner called Marquis De Pils. Saint Lucille's Kitchen will add wine soon, along with New Orleans cocktails with a Knoxville twist called KNOLA Cocktails. Two cocktails McClain mentioned are the Hurricane made with Knoxville-foraged prickly pears and French 75 with Crafty Bastard sparkling wine and PostModern Spirits gin.
Crafting Saint Lucille's Kitchen out of a 19th-century building
The building was built in the 19th century, McClain said, and is owned by former Vice Mayor Duane Grieve. It was previously used for offices, and McClain was more than happy to gut it.
McClain and Frede have transformed the interior with a checkered tile pattern, a blueish-teal paint job and blue pine walls. Only a couple sections of drywall housing the wiring for lighting, HVAC and sprinklers remain from the building's office days.
"That was one thing that ... just seemed to be a thorn and a huge challenge and it ended up being really cool. I'm really glad that we didn't delete it. It gives a lot of eye space," McClain said of the patches of the old building coming through.
Two bonuses came during the conversion process: The original brick walls and a skylight. This project brought out McClain's inner "interior designer" as he outfitted the walls with a mantel, an old Miller's Department Store sign and artwork from Lilienthal Gallery, including a huge three-piece painting over the counter. The gallery also designed several tables.
Emory Place has grown into an artsy district with the gallery and French Fried Vintage, and McClain wanted to match that energy.
The future of Saint Lucille's Kitchen
McClain and Frede plan on establishing service to Crafty Bastard where customers can order from the brewery and have the food brought to them next door. Private events are in the works, and Frede mentioned creating a brunch menu and opening for lunch down the line.
They're taking each expansion one step at a time.
Saint Lucille's Kitchen is open now 4-9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday.
Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.
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