Parlez-vous Francais?
Whether you can speak the language or not, authentic French cuisine now abounds in the area.
Seemingly out of nowhere three Salem-based establishments have appeared, offering locals a taste of true Western European fare.
Whether patrons seek a lengthly dinner meal or a quick coffee brunch, the options now exist without having to travel outside of the area.
“It’s kind of coincidental how they all popped up at once,” Ann Johnson, owner of Napoleon’s Creperies and Gelato said.
Chef David Rosales’ Le Capitale opened downtown last December, with French Press Cafe in South Salem following in March and Napolen’s also downtown in April.
“It’s a reflection of going’s on in other places,” Johnson said of the recent boom. “The style certainly isn’t new.”
In the fast food culture of today, it takes a certain amount of patience to sit down and experience a leisurely coffee or a multi-course dinner.
“I think people are getting burnt out on the mall approach. They’re thinking of how they’re spending their discretionary income and they don’t want to just eat and run,” Johnson said. “The atmosphere in which they eat their meal is important.”
Each of these establishments seeks to offer an authentic experience.
Jay Farmen’s French Press Cafe insists that their “crêpes and other dishes are made to order using fresh seasonal ingredients, striving to improve the way they are found on the street carts of France.”
Napoleon’s seek to have a similar ambiance.
“The image I want is the cafe on the street offering traditional food,” Johnson said.
“I want to remove the customer from Salem and to take you somehwere else- to make you feel like you’re on a Paris street.”
Not only is the cafe and crepe corner now covered, but Le Capitale offers a French brassiere experience for those who come in during their lunch and dinners hours Tuesday through Saturday.
The restaurant offers classic selections such as quiche, duck, charcuterie in addition to full bar and dessert menu.
“They all offer their own approach,” Johnson said.
Napolen’s, like its namesake, it a fusion of French and Italian selections.
“Gelato is made everyday right here by Linda Aiello-Shaw,” Johnson said. “We knew we wanted to do coffee and we knew we need other food options- the crepe concept seemed like a natural.”
Though Napoleon’s doesn’t employ a chef, such as La Capitale, their menu was created with the help of professionals.
“We had a couple of legitimate French chefs come in and test our food. They also taught our cooks,” Johnson said.
Additions to the local French cuisine culture are on the horizon.
New establishments are already in the works, including Jay Farmen and Mike Taylor’s second venture, Bakery D’Amour, who has a grand opening scheduled tentatively on September 18.
Napoleon’s also looks to add to their menu this fall, offering Pete’s flat bread pizza, oatmeal and additional pastry offerings as the new season begins.
Filling a culinary hole around the myriad of sandwich shops and Mexican restaurants, connoisseurs now have additional options in the capital no matter what time of the year it is.
