News Summary
Chef Carlos Salgado, renowned for his former eatery Taco María in California, is launching a new restaurant, La Sirena, in Ephraim, Wisconsin. Following the unexpected closure of Taco María, Salgado and his family decided to relocate to Door County for a better work-life balance. La Sirena will feature a prix fixe menu centered around local ingredients and handmade blue corn tortillas, aiming to elevate Mexican cuisine in a predominantly Midwestern area. Salgado hopes to become an ambassador for authentic Mexican food in the region.
Ephraim, Wisconsin – Chef Carlos Salgado, known for his acclaimed restaurant Taco María in Costa Mesa, California, is transitioning to a new venture in Door County, Wisconsin. Salgado has announced the opening of a new restaurant, La Sirena, as a response to personal and professional changes in his life. The announcement comes shortly after the surprise closure of Taco María in July 2023, a restaurant that had garnered significant recognition in the culinary world.
Opening in 2013, Taco María rapidly gained acclaim for its unique blend of high-end and homestyle Mexican cuisine. The restaurant earned several prestigious accolades, including the title of L.A. Times Restaurant of the Year in 2018 and four consecutive Michelin stars. Notably, it was also recognized by Esquire as one of the most important U.S. restaurants of the 2010s. Salgado was also a finalist this year for Best Chef in California at the James Beard Awards.
The closure of Taco María took many fans by surprise, occurring shortly after the expiration of the restaurant’s lease. Following this, Salgado and his family relocated to Door County, Wisconsin, which is the hometown of his wife, Emilie Coulson Salgado. The move aimed to allow them to spend more time with their two young children and Emilie’s parents. Salgado expressed the need to recharge and contemplate their future after years of demanding work in the restaurant industry.
La Sirena, set to open in Ephraim—a small community with a population of just 345—will feature a prix fixe menu with a focus on local produce and meats. Similar to Taco María, La Sirena will offer handmade blue corn tortillas, emphasizing the authenticity and quality of its Mexican cuisine. The new establishment will also seek to introduce high-caliber Mexican food to an area traditionally dominated by Midwestern fare.
Ephraim is approximately an hour and a half away from the nearest major city, Green Bay, a fact that has left some in the Southern California food scene confused about Salgado’s decision to move. While about 8% of Wisconsin’s population identifies as Latino, Door County remains predominantly white, at 96%. Despite this, Salgado has established that Mexican cuisine is a fundamental part of the restaurant industry and should be appreciated across the United States. He aims to act as an ambassador of Mexican food in regions where representation is limited.
The couple originally planned to return to California in 2024 and resume their restaurant operations there. However, they have grown fond of the slower pace of life in Door County, finding it beneficial for their family. They have recognized the cultural sacrifices of moving away from Southern California but remain committed to prioritizing family time and community involvement.
Having met in San Francisco in 2008, Salgado and Emilie transitioned from working in the restaurant scene to opening Taco María, where Emilie played a crucial role in its establishment from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar location. Her contributions will be equally vital in the operations at La Sirena.
While the original concept for Taco María focused on creating a “luxury food truck” experience, the plan evolved to cement the restaurant’s reputation in the competitive industry. Salgado continues to maintain a successful mail-order business for his salsa macha, allowing him to adapt to life in Wisconsin while preparing for the launch of La Sirena.
Ultimately, Salgado and his family are not viewing their move as abandoning Californian roots, but rather as seeking a better quality of life. They envision a harmonious balance between work and family, something that proved difficult to achieve in California’s bustling culinary landscape.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times: Carlos Salgado moves to Wisconsin
- Wikipedia: Chef
- AOL: Arellano’s Taco Mar opens
- Google Search: Culinary Arts
- AOL: Pan-Asia Supermarket opens
- Google Scholar: Mexican cuisine
- AOL: Celebrity Chef opens suburban restaurant
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Restaurant
- Eater LA: Cole’s closing
- Google News: Taco María
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA
The Costa Mesa Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, performances at the Pacific Amphitheatre, and community gatherings at The LAB Anti-Mall. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Visit Costa Mesa, plus leading businesses in retail, entertainment, and innovation that shape the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HERESantaAna.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, and HERELosAngeles.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.
