Chef Pat Gallagher
Pat has deep roots in St. Tammany Parish. His Grandfather, Doctor Geautreaux, was one of the founders of St. Tammany Hospital, and was also the Parish Coroner. His Father, Coach Hubie Gallagher, was inducted into the High School Football Coach Hall of Fame. There is a public park named in his honor as well as the Covington High School Gymnasium. Pat was a Covington High School Graduate in 1968 and attended University of Louisiana in Lafayette from 1968 – 1973.
After several years in the nursery business in Folsom, Pat opened his first Restaurant “The Winner’s Circle” in the heart of Folsom in 1978. He expanded two years later into a two story building south of Folsom. Again expanding, he built a new site on Highway 190 and operated the “Winner’s Circle” there until 1991.
Pat was also a Managing Partner during this period at the old “Bechac” Restaurant on the Lakefront in Mandeville. It was renovated and named the “Camelia Beachhouse” after the old steam ship that carried beach goers between he Southshore and Northshore around the turn of the century. Pat was commissioned to start up and begin operations at a restaurant located in Natchez, Mississippi, “Brother’s Restaurant & Bar”. He loved the quaint southern town and moved there in 1991 where he operated “Brother’s Café & Bar”, “Gallagher’s OnMain”, and “Jose’ Gallagher’s” (mexican cuisine).
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In that time period, he married Chyrl Weems Stroup and moved the family from Mandeville to Natchez. From that union, they raised 4 wonderful children. They seemed to migrate back to Covington/Mandeville on every vacation and soon felt their place was back in St. Tammany. Pat found a suitable location to begin “Gallagher’s Restaurant & Bar” north on Highway 190. His catering business was growing so he opened “Gallagher’s on the Lake” which could seat 150 guests for private parties. It was at the foot of the Causeway in Mandeville.
The opportunity for Pat to purchase and operate both businesses in one beautiful location arose. He secured a purchase agreement for Annadelle’s Plantation in Covington, La. It was an antebellum home with 4 bed & breakfast rooms next to the Bouge Falaya River. About a year later, he moved both the Restaurant and the Catering facility to Annadele’s. in which he had two partners. Also, he operated a full service catering venue for 4 years at “Maison Lafitte” in Mandeville until it sold in 2012.
In April of 2015, he purchased a second location close to the causeway dubbed “Pat Gallagher’s 527 Restaurant & Bar”…527 Causeway Blvd in Mandeville.
Pat’s family and loyal staff are food vendors at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival serving Crab Cakes, Pecan Catfish Meuniere, and Seafood Mirliton Casserole for the past 15 years. They also participate in various fundraisers for local and state charities monthly. Pat was one of the initial chefs involved in the Junior League’s major fund raiser “The Chef’s Soirée” which is sold out at Bouge Falaya Park every year for thousands of guests. He also supports “The Hospice Foundation” and the “Children’s Museum Project” in Mandeville. He donates to the various schools and churches fundraisers annually.