Passion’s the Roux for this Chef’s Gumbo

Curtis McGhee is always smiling. He doesn’t mind getting just four hours sleep every night and working two jobs because now he has his own place where his southern style cooking is a labor of love.

“We’ve been open for two months and I haven’t made a dime. But I come here everyday like I’m making 100 grand,” McGhee, who also works two nights a week as a bouncer at the Wise Fools Pub said.

Bucktown Soup Café has been run by other people before. McGhee and business partner Kyle Fountain took over the ailing business from the previous owner, a lawyer who, by all accounts, was not cut out for the profession.

McGhee is the polar opposite. Everything about him screams, “Chef.”  His quasi-southern accent, highly pleasant demeanor and clear passion and knowledge of Creole food is what he says draws the customers back.