Cultures Come Together At Schera's Algerian-american Restaurant In Elkader

With a population just over 1,000, Elkader probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind when thinking of cultural diversity. But not only is this northeast Iowa town named after a famous Algerian, Emir Abdelkader, it is also sister cities with Mascara, Algeria, and home to Schera’s Algerian-American Restaurant. Opened in 2006 by native Iowan Brian Bruening and French-Algerian Frederique Boudouani, Schera’s has become a staple on Elkader’s main street and a regional cultural and culinary destination. Bruening and Boudouani met while attending college in Boston, later marrying and moving back to Iowa to escape the bustle of the city.