Arcata diners would be forgiven for trepidation when they saw a yellow Alcohol Beverage Control change of ownership poster up in the window of Folie Douce last month. The restaurant has been part of the high end dining scene in Arcata for more than 20 years. Fans of the artichoke cheesecake and rocquefort filet mignon need not worry, but there are many new flavors on the menu under new owner Reda Salhi.
In the latest Table Talk by North Coast Journal editor Jennifer Fumiko Cahill, she spoke with Salhi about his culinary background, his journey from his birthplace in Algeria, through Europe, to Ecuador and then to the U.S.
The journey, and the story of Salhil's adoption of Lebanese and other Mediterranean flavors, is as interesting as Folie Douce's new hummus and shawarma.