OFF THE MENU: Celebrity chef closes down wine country restaurant after just 4 years thanking customers for the ‘journey’
According to The Sun , Chef Casey Thompson, known for her appearances on Top Chef and Food Fighters, has announced the closure of her acclaimed Sonoma restaurant, Folktable, after just four years of operation. The celebrity chef shared the bittersweet news in an emotional Instagram post, thanking customers for their support and for helping make her dream a reality.
“With gratitude and a touch of sadness, we announce the closing of our doors,” Thompson wrote. “Thank you for being a part of our journey, for sharing countless memories, and for supporting us through the years.” She encouraged followers to continue supporting the staff who will be impacted by the closure.
Folktable, which earned Michelin’s Bib Gourmand distinction for four consecutive years, offered a unique dining experience with dishes like chicken fat-butter rice with Dungeness crab and beef tartare over hash browns. The restaurant was known for its innovative Californian menu and terrace setting.
Chef Casey, who began her career in Texas and previously owned Aveline in San Francisco, made a name for herself on Top Chef, where she was voted “Fan Favorite” in the third season and also finished as a runner-up. Her heartfelt announcement marks the end of a memorable chapter in the restaurant’s history.
Meanwhile, another celebrity chef, Mark Hix, is also closing his restaurant, The Oyster & Fish House, after 16 years in business. Located in Lyme Regis, UK, the popular seafood spot will close its doors on December 7. Hix, who opened the restaurant in 2008, cited challenges including the pandemic and a long-running planning dispute as factors contributing to the closure.
“It’s safe to say there have been some ups and downs over the years, particularly with the pandemic, as well as increasing challenges and pressures on the industry,” Hix explained. Despite these setbacks, he expressed pride in the restaurant’s legacy and added, “I always think if you’re going to stop doing something, you should always go out on a high.”
The closure of these two high-profile restaurants highlights a broader trend in the dining industry, with several restaurant chains also announcing closures. In October, TGI Fridays revealed it would shut 49 locations, reducing its total number of outlets to 164. The closures, part of a series of shutdowns in recent months, come amid financial struggles and reports suggesting the chain may be preparing to file for bankruptcy.
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TGI Fridays has been affected by the changing landscape of the restaurant business, with closures reported across multiple states, including Ohio, New York, Florida, Missouri, and California. These closures add to the chain’s earlier losses, which included the closure of 36 locations in January and 12 more in September, bringing the total to nearly 100 stores shuttered in recent months.
As the restaurant industry continues to face economic challenges, both celebrity chefs and large chains are adjusting to new realities, with closures becoming a sad but common part of the business landscape.
