Eleven years ago, Gina Otto’s family spent two weeks in New Brunswick, New Jersey, while her daughter, Jillian, recovered from a specialized surgery for scoliosis.
It was a college town filled with New York-style pizzerias, which her husband, Scott, enjoyed.
“But there was one place that captured my heart – a small creperie called Crepe One,” Gina said.
The restaurant was within walking distance of the hospital, so she and her husband ate there almost every day, befriending the owners and learning all about crepe-making.
“I fell in love with crepes,” she said. “I told my husband that if we ever opened a restaurant, I want to make crepes. I just love them. They are the perfect vessel for sweet and savory.”
A passion for food runs in her family. In the mid-1980s her parents, Ron and Barb Boyer operated Frenchy’s Carryout on Joachim Street in Herculaneum.
Gina, who grew up in Herculaneum and now lives in Festus, has fond memories of helping out after school and more recently, baking desserts for Thai Rama.
Right time, right place
Last summer, Gina, who is an event manager and a professional singer (a member of Trio Monaco), was in Kimmswick for a Witches Night Out planning meeting when she noticed the Kimmswick Korner store, better known as the Old Ziegler Store at 119 Market St., was for sale.
“It was like an epiphany,” she said. “I always talked about bringing Frenchy’s back if it were the right place, the right time and the right location.”
She immediately called her mom and proposed “Frenchy’s with a spin.”
“(Mom) was instantly on board,” Gina said. “In fact, I think she did a cartwheel.”
Gina hopes to open Frenchy’s Cafe & Creperie in April with a grand opening in May.
“We are bringing this dream to life in loving memory of my dad, Ron, who believed every meal should have something special about it,” she said. “This is our way of bringing Frenchy’s back home – honoring the past, embracing the present and creating a place in Kimmswick where people can slow down, gather and be reminded that la vie est belle (life is beautiful/good).”
Barb, whose food service work includes 13 years as the Jefferson College food service director, will run the kitchen.
Gina and her son, Grant, who is in his senior year as a business major at Southeast Missouri State, will make the crepes and drinks. He also will manage the financial side of the business.
The crepes will be made behind the counter where customers can watch. Customers will order their food from the counter, and the food will be brought out to them.
Gina said she has the crepe-making spin down.
“It’s all in the batter – being the right consistency – and the temperature of the pan,” she said.
Sweet crepes will be served with a dusting of powdered sugar and Chantilly cream, and you can add a scoop of ice cream for $1. The savory crepes will be served with spring mix and house vinaigrette.
“We will offer sweet favorites such as strawberry Nutella, French apple, bananas, blueberries, and more, along with savory options like the Monte Cristo with ham, turkey, Swiss and Gruyere cheese; chicken and mushrooms; and vegetarian choices,” Gina said. “We will also offer a gluten-free crepe option. Our ingredients will be fresh and high quality, because that is what makes French cuisine so special – simple food made beautifully with good ingredients.
“And yes, we fully believe you can never drizzle on too much Nutella.”
The special family recipes
Gina said while Frenchy’s Carryout was only in business for two years, area residents still talk about the food.
“It had a loyal following, and people still ask us about those recipes when we run into them today,” she said. “The business was doing well, but when my dad purchased several Post-Dispatch newspaper routes – including Kimmswick, funnily enough – it became too much to manage alongside the restaurant, and they made the difficult decision to let Frenchy’s go. Even then, the recipes stayed with us, waiting for the right moment to be brought back.”
The Frenchy’s Special is one of the recipes that will be on the everyday menu. It’s a sandwich with tender roast beef, ham, salami, cheddar, lettuce, pickle, red onion and house creamy Dijon spread.
Other Frenchy’s Carryout staples will be a chicken salad croissant and Frenchy’s Famous French Onion Soup “with a wee bit of spice.” Other items may be brought back as daily specials, Gina said.
In addition to food, there will be drip and specialty coffees, iced tea, lemonade, French hot chocolate, wine and beer options, mimosas, champagne and Fitz’s soda.
French flair
For the past several months, Gina and Scott have been getting the building ready.
“We are trying to restore as much of the building as possible,” she said, adding that they’ve been pleasantly surprised by some of the building’s French flair.
One of her favorite features is a large antique bookcase in the main dining room, complete with a rolling ladder.
“It is a gorgeous piece of history, and we worked hard to preserve as much of the building’s original charm as possible during the renovation,” Gina said. “The bookcase inspired us to create a small bookstore vibe within the cafe, where we will showcase curated book collections from time to time and highlight local writers. We will also offer Parisian-inspired souvenirs and gifts such as textiles, jewelry and market totes – little pieces of France to take home.”
Gina found a vintage church pew in Roberstville that she believes fits perfectly with the dining room.
She said they will host business meetings and small gatherings (up to 25 people) in Frenchy’s Parlour, a room off the dining room. She hopes in the future to reopen a long-sealed door for outdoor patio seating.
Gina wants the cafe to feel welcoming to everyone, from couples on brunch dates to families with children. The cafe will offer free Wi-Fi.
She said her family has always had a soft spot for Kimmswick, a town where life slows down a bit. She said Kimmswick is known as a wonderful place for friends and family to gather and shop and spend some time together.
“We want Frenchy’s to add to that character and atmosphere by offering a little European-style escape in our cafe, where our mantra is Bienvenue – welcome – and la vie est belle – life is good.”
Gina said hours will be 9 a.m. to mid-afternoon Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit Frenchy’s Cafe and Creperie on Facebook.