If ever there was a symbol of courage, hope and achievement of the American dream becoming reality and becoming an owner of a very fine established restaurant and inn, it is owner-chef Jack Saleh, who was born in Ethiopia, Africa and who has come a long way from home.

The Inn features the county’s best snapper soup, salads and entrees of Fettuccine Neptune with crabmeat, sautéed veal, tortellini Alfredo, salmon filet, Monte Cristo and an all-day dinner menu. You won’t be disappointed at the Stottsville Inn in Pomeroy, outside West Coatesville.

“I was three years old when we moved to Cairo in 1953,” he continued. “I remember when I was in junior high school, about 12 years old, I told my teacher that I was going to leave the country and someday be a cook. I started to learn English because at that time I knew that sooner or later I would be leaving.

My experiences helped me be the cook that I am today. Everywhere I cooked and worked, I learned something new. I worked with American chefs, Italian chefs, Greek chefs, French chefs, Turkish chefs, Chinese chefs, Egyptian chefs, Lebanese chefs, Spanish chefs, African chefs, etc. I learned something from all of them, but I also put my own touch and delight to my cooking.

“I came to American with $119 and I never dreamed that I would get this far and someday be an owner of a well-known restaurant. It was my dream come true.”