Feel the Magic of Tennis Paradise – BNP Paribas – March 4-17, 2024
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Sheri’s Palm Springs Area Blog
Whether it be real estate updates, restaurant reviews, events, or highlights of unique homes in Palm Springs, follow Sheri as she covers all that Palm Springs and the surrounding area has to offer.
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Sheri Dettman – Palm Springs Real Estate Receives 2023 Best of La Quinta Award
Sheri Dettman - Palm Springs Real Estate Receives 2023 Best of La Quinta Award
LA QUINTA August 27, 2023 -- Sheri Dettman - Palm Springs Real Estate has been selected for the 2023 Best of La Quinta Award in the Real estate consultant category by the La Quinta Award Program.
Each year, the La Quinta Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small businesses through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the La Quinta area a great place to live, work and play.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2023 La Quinta Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the La Quinta Award Program and data provided by third parties.
About La Quinta Award Program
The La Quinta Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the La Quinta area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The La Quinta Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.
SOURCE: La Quinta Award Program
These Greater Palm Springs Area Resorts Offer the Best Amenities
Readers voted for their favorite businesses in 24 categories in our annual Best of the Best competition. Here are their picks for swanky stays.
The Paloma Resort's putting green.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE PALOMA RESORT
PALM SPRINGS
Parker Palm Springs: Eat, sleep, dream, and treat yourself in a Jonathan Adler–designed fantasyland with endless options, including three large pools, a trio of restaurants, four clay tennis courts, a pétanque court, a croquet lawn, a lavish spa, and a fitness studio.
DESERT HOT SPRINGS
Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa Oasis: An oasis of relaxation, this property specializes in boutique luxury. Beyond the spa offerings, restorative cleanses, wellness classes, and mineral water, discover unique gifts and souvenirs at the curated shop and recharge with organic coffee at the on-site café.
CATHEDRAL CITY
The Paloma Resort: When it comes to unwinding, this resort promises it all, from tapas-style bites at on-site restaurant Sol y Sombra to spa services at Grounded at The Paloma. Follow your poolside libation with a massage for the ultimate experience, then cozy up in a suite decked in murals of desert plants.
RANCHO MIRAGE
The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage: Perched more than 600 feet above the Coachella Valley, the sophisticated 244-room resort exudes unrivaled luxury, from the pair of pools with eye-popping views of the desert to the stunning two-story, 25,000-square-foot spa.
PALM DESERT
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa: This wonderland of recreational activities includes golf, tennis, swimming, and wildlife experiences. You’ll ride a boat to reach your dinner reservation (really!), and if you’re after a little tranquility, the 38,000-square-foot luxury spa is just what the doctor ordered.
INDIAN WELLS
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa: There’s something for everyone at this 45-acre resort that was originally built to host the city’s annual tennis tournament. Families love the pool complex, with a 450-foot-long lazy river and dueling waterslides.
LA QUINTA
La Quinta Resort & Club: Kick back and relish all this resort has to offer, from swimming, tennis, and golf to reinvigorating spa therapies such as a CBD candle massage, a pranayama breathing journey, a soak in a private garden tub, or a massage that begins with a wine tasting.
INDIO
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino: At Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, you can have it all: a day on the golf course followed by a swim, a fancy steak dinner at The Bistro, and a signature hot fudge sundae at Lique. Before you head home, visit Splurge, where you can spend your casino winnings on a memento to commemorate the trip.
Dining Around The Desert: Broadway by Amar Santana, Laguna Beach
Michael and I recently headed down to Laguna Beach for my mom’s birthday. We had reservations at Broadway by Amar Santana as we’d watched him on Top Chef, we really liked his personality, and his cooking looked terrific.
A bit about the restaurant: Inspired by the theaters in New York City, award-winning Chef Amar Santana alongside restauranteur Ahmed Labbate creates an atmosphere where the food becomes the main show.
The restaurant’s menu is inspired by the creativity of Chef Amar Santana and his version of Modern Cuisine of The Americas. It features top-quality ingredients, focusing on local farms that can provide the menu’s seasonal requirements.
The interior reflects an industrial New York look with an open kitchen that is the center stage, with six coveted seats at the chef’s table overlooking the activity of the kitchen. Chef Amar Santana will personally create and prepare a multiple-course menu to those guests that choose to be adventurous with their cuisine.
It was packed and jumping at 6:30 pm on a Friday in July. We were seated immediately, the service was attentive, and the servers were extremely knowledgeable.
We had them open a nice bottle of wine that we had brought with us, and we let that breathe while we ordered appetizers to share.
We had a couple of Roasted Heirloom Beet Salads with whipped Feta, red wine shallot vinaigrette, watercress, and pistachios. I eat a lot of beet salads, and this one was unique due to the whipped Feta, which was great. We also shared the Housemade Focaccia with sundried tomato, parmesan, and whipped butter. We could have eaten multiple loaves! The kicker was the Crisp French Fries with chipotle aioli. The best fries ever.
For our second courses, I had the Herb Roasted Mediterranean Branzino with cauliflower puree, pickled clam shell mushroom, and truffle jus. Michael had the Thyme Basted Sonoma Duck Breast with an endive marmalade, duck confit stuffed apricot, sunchoke puree, and cassis duck jus. My mom enjoyed the Lamb Tagliatelle with slow-braised lamb ragout, mint pesto, fresh horseradish, and shaved parmesan.
For dessert, we shared the Oh Beehive, which is a lemon goat cheese mousse, honeycomb, elderflower, and honey ice cream, the Lemon Ricotta Fritters with lemon cream and rosemary honey, and the Chocolate Praline Crunch with salted caramel ice cream, and candied hazelnuts. On top of that, they brought the birthday girl a Bourbon Vanilla Bean Panacotta with strawberry sorbet, chocolate pearls, and tarragon.
Between courses, we spent time with Amar, who was a delight. He’s personable, down to earth, and the same as he appears on Top Chef. He and I discussed some chefs we had in common as I worked for Wolfgang Puck at the original Spago years ago, and Amar knows Wolf. He told us quite a bit about the experience of being on the show and its effect on his business, which is considerable. It truly made our evening, and my mom had a great time.
Absolutely everything was top-notch. It was a fun, tasty experience, and we’ll be back the next time we are in Laguna Beach.
328 Glenneyre Street
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.715.8234
949.715.8241 F
Hours and Services
We are currently open for dining Monday – Sunday. Our current hours are as follows:
SUNDAY – WEDNESDAY 5:00 pm – 9 pm
THURSDAY 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
FRIDAY – SATURDAY 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
We are open for Curbside Pickup and accepting online orders every day.
Rebate Offer from Coachella Valley Water District!
Rebate Offer from Coachella Valley Water District!
Protect your property, take control of your water use, and save money on your next water bill.
Get Flume For Just $65 (plus tax and shipping) after Rebate!
Only 90 Remaining
Coachella Valley Water District & Flume
Special Offer! Get Flume for just $65 (plus tax and shipping) after rebate from Coachella Valley Water District!
Protect your property, take control of your water use, and save money on your next water bill.
70% of New Flume Customers Found a Leak
Flume is changing the way we consume water
Flume can help you manage, monitor, and conserve the world’s most precious resource.
Up And Running In Minutes
Works so fast you won’t believe it. Set up and install Flume in the time it takes you to brew your Sunday pot of coffee. No pipe cutting. No wiring. No appointments. No plumbers.
Catch Water Leaks And Protect Your Home
Surprises are fun, but not when it comes to leaks. Since using Flume, about 70%* of people found leaks. Flume alerts you of abnormal (or accidental) water usage to give you peace of mind whether you’re at home or away.
Dig Up The Details Your Standard Water Bill Doesn’t
Take control of your water usage and bring quirky facts to the backyard barbeque. Here’s one: our customers reported reducing consumption at least 10% year-over-year. Flume gives you down-to-the-minute, easy-to-read, water use reports and insights to help you use less water.
Overflowing with Savings
A device that pays for itself. Flume automatically suggests a budget so you can cap your consumption and creates leak notifications to catch costly drips. Not to mention, 66%* of Flume customers reported a change in their water use behavior.
Up And Running In Minutes
Works so fast you won’t believe it. Set up and install Flume in the time it takes you to brew your Sunday pot of coffee. No pipe cutting. No wiring. No appointments. No plumbers.
Catch Water Leaks And Protect Your Home
Surprises are fun, but not when it comes to leaks. Since using Flume, about 70%* of people found leaks. Flume alerts you of abnormal (or accidental) water usage to give you peace of mind whether you’re at home or away.
Simple Self-Installation. No Plumbing Necessary.
Just download the Flume app, connect to wifi, and fasten the sensor. No real dirty work required, but it comes with gloves just in case.
1
Download the Flume App
Your phone or tablet is the only tool you will need.
2
Connect the Flume Bridge to Wifi
The Bridge captures data from up to 1,000 feet away. Rest assured, it will work for your property.
3
Place the Sensor on Your Water Meter
Once it’s securely fastened, activate it by running a stream of water. Straps included.
Showered with Compliments
Amazing!
My Flume device far exceeded my expectations! I can certainly see much research and development was invested into this product. It’s simple to order. Arrived quickly. No moving parts to hassle with. ‘Made easy’ installation. Easy to configure alarm settings. And just works great! Thank you for making this product available! (and a rebate to boot! Bonus!)
Don
This device immediately helped me lower my water bill
This device was recommended by our city water provider and they gave a rebate for the cost of the unit. It is very easy to install and I immediately started receiving detailed data on my water usage. The Flume also alerts me if a faucet is dripping anywhere, inside or outside. It is one of the most useful home automation devices I have used and I highly recommend it.
Richard M
Great data collection which helps me to conserve
Just like budgeting my finances, Flume allows me to set daily, weekly and monthly budgets to control my usage. The Leak alerts tell me specifically how long my water is running, either from the inside or outside, especially when I am hand watering my lawn or performing other watering tasks outside. Flume is now a daily watchdog to help us conserve our water usage! Great tool! Thank you!
TC S.
4,118
4.3 star rating
CERTIFIED REVIEWS
Powered by YOTPO
Here's How to Claim Your Rebate
1
Purchase your Flume System for $90 (plus tax and shipping)
Regularly $249
2
Install your Flume System
See mobile app for instructions
3
Automatically get $25 refunded back to your credit card
We’ve Helped Customers Save an Average of 10-20% Per Month on Their Water Bill
Based on 2019 study of 500 homes
This offer is only valid for Coachella Valley Water District customers only.
Dining Around The Desert: Luna’s Bar & Grill, Indio
A new restaurant located at the Canopy at Citrus in Indio
Michael and I have recently enjoyed several meals with some of our Griffin Ranch neighbors at a brand new spot right by the Ralph’s on Jefferson and 50th in the still under construction, Canopy at Citrus.
Luna’s Bar & Grill features a diverse menu with something for everyone without being overwhelming.
For appetizers, we’ve shared a Traditional Caesar, a Burrata Flatbread salad with field greens, fresh burrata, shaved prosciutto and a balsamic vinaigrette, and Crispy Calamari with a sweet chili dipping sauce. The Flatbread was great, and we’d have that again.
For my main course, I stuck with the Ahi Tuna Stack with avocado, cucumber, mango, soy vinaigrette, and sriracha aioli. Great presentation and very flavorful. Michael had the Boxer (Meat Lovers) Pizza with mozzarella, applewood smoked bacon, Italian sausage, pepperoni, and Canadian bacon and gave it excellent reviews.
Our friends had everything from California Sanddabs, Chicken Picatta, the Luna’s Burger with applewood smoked bacon, melted blue cheese crumbles, caramelized onions, lettuce, and spicy mayo on a brioche bun to Rigatoni Bolognese, and the Greek Gourmet Pizza with pesto, mozzarella, grilled chicken, artichokes, spinach, and caramelized onions.
Luna’s has a nice bar with a handful of signature drinks. I tried the Cucumber Martini, and our friends tried the Spicy Watermelon Margarita and the Blackberry Margarita. They have a nice wine list as well.
Everyone had nothing but good things to say about their meals, and it’s sure to become a local’s favorite. It’s reasonably priced, the service is attentive, and they put out a consistently fresh, tasty, and well-made product.
LUNAS BAR & GRILL
HOURS OF OPERATION
Lunch: 11:30am-3:00pm
Dinner: 5:00pm-9:00pm
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Take Out available 12:00am-9:00pm
* reservations are highly recommended.
Phone: 442-400-3827
Address: 49830 Jefferson St, Suite 100, Indio, CA 92201
A New York Times Bestseller Reflects on the Heat of the Desert
Reflections on the seemingly inhospitable yet magical nature of the desert, especially in summer.
Tod Goldberg Palm Springs Life Magazine
ILLUSTRATION BY NASH WEERASEKERA
This is the time of year when concerned relatives call to check in. We saw that you’re living in the hottest place on the planet. Are you okay?
No, we’re not. No normal person chooses to stay in the desert all summer. You have to want the heat.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, I went on a ride-along with a Joshua Tree park ranger. The desert air was still cool, at least when I climbed into the ranger’s SUV at around 9 o’clock in the morning. By noon, it was just under 80 degrees. Which is nothing for me. I don’t even put on shorts until it’s 85, and even then, it’s a production. Tourists wear shorts when it’s 72, but desert rats, we cherish the two months or so of the year that we actually get to wear a pair of pants.
“Grab a bottle of water,” the ranger said. We’d parked a good 5 miles off the main road and were going to hike across a flat expanse of sand and creosote toward a place I’d only heard talk of: a ravine filled with domestic relics that were washed away by a flood sometime last century.
“I’m good,” I said.
“Grab a bottle of water,” she urged again, “you don’t realize how hot it is and how far you’re going to be walking.”
Ever dutiful, particularly when a woman with a gun has orders for me, I took a bottle. Fifteen minutes later, I was a little dizzy and breathless, sweating through my jeans; if I’d closed my eyes and turned in a circle, I’d have never found my way back out of the desert. You could die out here, I thought. And of course, if there’s one universal truth about this desert life, it is that despite the beauty and solemnity of the desert, despite the resorts and golf courses, despite Coachella and Stagecoach and the film festival, despite the man-made lakes and surf parks proposed across the valley, this is a cruel and forbidding place if you happen to be outside and without water for too long. It’s not that you could die — you would.
After another 10 minutes or so, we came upon the relics of an old mining district homestead. A sealed well. A gutted refrigerator. The skeleton of a stove. Scattered cups and plates. “How did people live out here?” I asked.
The park ranger shrugged. “Not easily.” She looked at me. “You feeling OK?”
“You were right,” I said. I guzzled down my water. The park ranger nodded. She was wearing a full uniform, body armor, a gun — all that, and she hadn’t broken a sweat. I looked like I’d hiked through the desert wearing an entire rack of clothing from Banana Republic: moderately fashionable if totally inappropriate.
On the way back, the ranger gave me her bottle, too.
The heat has always been cathartic, the arrival of summer a forced slowdown.
I’VE FREQUENTLY THOUGHT about that day in Joshua Tree, not because I was ever in any real danger, but because of how many people make the same mistakes every day. If you aren’t from here, you just don’t know how quickly things can turn south.
We moved to the desert when I was 13. My family had been vacationing here since the 1950s, when both sets of grandparents fled the harsh winters of Longview and Walla Walla, Washington, for Palm Springs and golf, buying homes at Canyon Country Club and renting condos at Villa Alejo. Later, my mother, who yearned for a life of perpetual sunshine, would grow tired of the Bay Area fog and fly south for a life under palm trees.
For me, the heat has always been cathartic, the arrival of summer a forced slowdown, a system reset, a time to reevaluate, to see the world for what it is. So when it came time for me to figure out where I wanted to live for the rest of my life — after college and a decade split between Los Angeles and Las Vegas — I felt pulled back to the desert.
To set roots in sand is, of course, a foolish premise on its face, but I think of what Joan Didion said about living in California: “The apparent ease of California life is an illusion, and those who believe the illusion real live here in only the most temporary way.” I wanted something permanent.
A FEW YEARS AGO, when The Rolling Stones performed at Desert Trip, I remember Mick Jagger standing on the edge of the stage, a swirling 90-degree wind kicking up around him, and announcing, “This is a bit like singing into a hair dryer.” It was October. Fall. The onset of what we call winter. Mick would never last a summer here.
There is nothing more beautiful to me than the desert at about 10 o’clock at night, deep into July, when the temperature slides below 105 for the first time. I like to get into my car, put the top down, turn up the AC, fill the stereo with old Kyuss songs, and drive the empty streets. Everything is still, yet somehow the air feels like an animate object you have to cut through. Sometimes I’ll just roll, following the road where it takes me — into the darkness outside of Whitewater or up past Lake Cahuilla or through the old-money neighborhoods of Palm Springs, the ghost of Cary Grant cruising beside me, the stars flicking above like memories, the laws against light pollution good for these haunted nights.
On nights like these, the heat is a companion, but not an easy one. And it’s certainly no illusion. There’s always a moment of pure euphoria when you turn off the car’s AC and the heat drops in front of you like a wall; you realize that technology has made the world easier. But the desert is always waiting, just the same, for you to make the wrong move.
Joan Didion also said, “Stories travel at night in the desert.” A desert life is hard. It’s that duality that makes me love this place, this desert the tourists will never really know, when you park your car at the side of the road, hear the yowling of coyotes in the distance, and recognize that you are in a timeless place of savage, incessant, fluid, dry, and somehow welcome heat.
Why Home Buyers Should Use A Local Realtor
Why Home Buyers Should Use A Local Realtor
This to us seems like a no-brainer, yet time and time again, we see out-of-the-area agents attempting to represent clients in an area that they are not familiar with, and it’s a great disservice to the client. If a person is selling their home, they will not use someone who is not local and an expert in their area, so why would they do it when purchasing?
Where my team is located, in the Palm Springs area, this problem came to a head during the past couple of years. The proximity to Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego makes it appealing to agents who want a weekend in the desert combined with showing a few homes. And now that the market is so slow, there are a lot of hungry agents out there looking for any way to generate some income.
As a Realtor, you have a fiduciary duty to your clients; this practice certainly does not support that duty. I’ve lived in Newport Beach, Los Angeles, etc.…but if I had a client that wanted to purchase property in those areas, I would refer the client to an agent in that area as that’s the right thing to do.
Unless the agent has a vacation home in the area, knows it well, and consistently and recently sells homes there, or perhaps recently lived here and then moved away, there is no way that they will know all the intricacies involved. They don’t know the pros and cons of each City, development, golf course, orientation of the property, vendors, amenities, and rental rules, to name a few, not to mention the culture of each community. Heck, even agents that are located locally may not know these things, which is why you want experienced representation. As a Buyer, you need to know these things to make an informed decision.
In addition, the chances of them driving 2 hours to come out and then 2 hours back for the home inspection, any additional inspections, walk-throughs, and dozens of other things that might come up are slim in our experience. And guess who they ask to do their job for them? This is another reason that local agents don’t care to work with out-of-the-area agents. Not only do they not know the local market, they also may not do their job.
Today, I showed one of my listings for an out-of-the-area agent and his clients. The agent was a very pleasant guy, but he knew nothing about the community that my listing was in, had never been there before, was 15 minutes late because he was relying on GPS to get him there, and didn’t know where the entrance was. I felt terrible for his clients. Luckily for them, I do know everything about the community, and they and their agent had a lot of questions that I was happy to supply them with. However, those Buyers will be out of luck on any of the homes he was showing them where the Listing Agent was not there.
If you are an out-of-the-area agent, send us your buyers, and we’ll take excellent care of them and send you a referral fee.
If you are a Buyer with a friend who is a Realtor that you want to be part of the deal, have them contact us. We’ll take care of you and your Realtor friend. You’ll get the representation you deserve and your friend will have done the right thing by you and get a referral fee.
Dining Around The Desert: The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Greater Palm Springs This Summer
The Coachella Valley’s rich and diverse culinary scene serves up delectable bites morning, noon, and night.
Sherman’s Deli & Bakery.
PHOTO BY BRANDON HARMAN
Whether you’re after a loaded sandwich, a leafy salad, a fabulous brunch, or an upscale meal for a special occasion, you’ll find what you’re looking for right here in Greater Palm Springs. Here’s where to take a bite out of the local culture this summer.
AS SEEN ON TV.
If you love Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, try some of the local delicacies that have been featured on the show. Sherman’s Deli & Bakery is an authentic Jewish deli with locations in Palm Desert and Palm Springs, where Guy Fieri tried turkey pastrami and latkes. At Chúla Artisan Eatery in La Quinta, he tried the owner’s family recipe for chilaquiles and a green chile Monte Cristo. Pablo’s Tacos & Beer in Indio earned the show’s stamp of approval for its tacos and Mexican street food, and Grill-a-Burger in Palm Desert was hailed for its Devil’s Revenge burger (with habanero-pepper relish and fried serrano chiles) and the cabbage-topped turkey Buddha Burger.
Beautiful Day.
PHOTO COURTESY BEAUTIFUL DAY
VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN.
If you’re on a plant-based diet, you’re in luck. Nature’s Health Food & Café in Palm Springs is a long-standing favorite, offering a fully vegan menu. Chef Tanya’s Kitchen in Palm Springs and Palm Desert will turn carnivores into plant lovers with diverse meat-alternative offerings, including a pastrami-style sandwich. Stop by Chef Tanya’s Kreamery, located next door to the Palm Desert location, for vegan ice cream. Delicious food and healthy choices come together in La Quinta at Beautiful Day, the latest concept from chef Justin Jenkins. Wildest in Palm Desert and Palm Greens Café and Lulu California Bistro in Palm Springs devote generous portions of their menus to veggie selections.
Spencer’s Restaurant.
PHOTO BY BRANDON HARMAN
FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
Celebrate your special occasion in a special place. Le Vallauris Restaurant in Palm Springs serves elegant French cuisine in a beautiful garden setting with an extensive wine list. Spencer’s Restaurant, tucked at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, offers a fine-dining experience featuring classic American cuisine; the large patio is climate-controlled. Workshop Kitchen + Bar in Uptown Palm Springs features a sleek, modern ambiance that earned a James Beard Award and pairs it with creative, farm-to-table dishes. Mastro’s Steakhouse, located on El Paseo in Palm Desert, is perfect for a sophisticated and indulgent dinner of prime steaks or fresh seafood; there’s live music nightly in the buzzy lounge. For a spectacular setting, head to La Quinta Cliffhouse, where you can enjoy cocktails and California cuisine perched atop a cliff while taking in stunning mountain scenery.
COFFEE WITH A TWIST.
For a summery spin on your caffeine fix, visit Café La Jefa in Palm Springs for a Mexican-style café de olla or nearby Ernest Coffee for a citrus-infused latte made with lemon bitters. At Sixth Street Coffee in Coachella, you can sample a cold brew lemonade, lavender rose latte, or horchata latte. If you like cuddles with your coffee, head to Frisky Business Cat Café in Palm Springs, where a menu of gourmet drinks pairs with adoptable kitties.
TREAT YOURSELF TO BRUNCH.
Indulge in a leisurely brunch at one of Greater Palm Springs’ popular cafés and restaurants. In the heart of downtown Palm Springs, French Miso Café is known for its French and Japanese cuisine, including brunch classics like eggs Benedict and Japanese specialties like a bento box. Nearby, Farm is a French-inspired local favorite where diners enjoy farm-to-table dishes made with locally sourced ingredients in a stunningly cozy setting. Wilma & Frieda, located in Palm Desert and Palm Springs, is always a good choice for brunch; the menu is all about comfort food with a twist, like the Chicken & Waffle Benny or the homemade “pop tarts.” Azure Palm Café in Desert Hot Springs prepares fresh options, including a Green Goddess Salad and Keto Quiche. For a truly luxurious bite, check out Norma’s at Parker Palm Springs for decadent dishes like the Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata with caviar. J’s Deli in Palm Desert serves breakfast all day, from cheese blintzes to lox with latkes.
Farm.
PHOTO COURTESY VISIT GREATER PALM SPRINGS
SMALL PLATES, BIG FLAVOR.
Sample a variety of flavors with easy-to-share plates. Trio Restaurant in Palm Springs marries its contemporary and casual atmosphere with small plates meant for passing, including a selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Catalan Mediterranean Cuisine in Rancho Mirage serves delicious Spanish-style tapas, including house-marinated Spanish olives, grilled bread with roasted bone marrow, and the signature paella, made with seafood, chicken, and chorizo.
Morgan's in the Desert.
COURTESY LA QUINTA RESORT & CLUB
REGIONAL EATS.
Seek out local favorites to take in the full flavor of Greater Palm Springs. The colorful, lively El Jefe Desert Cantina at Saguaro Palm Springs serves Mexican street food such as cochinita pork and chicken tinga tacos and regional desserts like date bread pudding. In Rancho Mirage, Las Casuelas Nuevas serves traditional Mexican fare in a festive setting, and Coachella Bar in downtown Coachella draws locals for chavelas and Mexicali-style hot dogs wrapped in bacon. Excelling in fresh SoCal cuisine, Palm Desert’s Cork Tree uses locally sourced ingredients, and La Quinta’s Morgan’s in the desert promises contemporary-leaning favorites such as fig salad and soups made with local bounty.
Smokin' Burgers & Lounge.
PHOTO BY MOLLIE KIMBERLING
MADE FOR MEAT LOVERS.
If it’s protein you crave, these restaurants have mastered the art of grilling and glazing. Smokin’ Burgers & Lounge in Palm Springs serves 100 percent, never-frozen Angus beef patties with a variety of toppings, while Bubba’s Bones & Brews in Cathedral City specializes in pulled pork sandwiches slathered in sweet barbecue sauce. Sullivan’s Steakhouse in Palm Desert sets a swanky mood for entrées such as rack of lamb and dry-aged, long-bone ribeye. For a hibachi show, dine at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse in Rancho Mirage. (They serve A5 Japanese wagyu.)
SAMPLE THE BEST OF GREATER PALM SPRINGS.
Need help deciding what to try? Download the free Summer Eats Pass from Visit Greater Palm Springs to check in at participating eateries around the valley and become eligible to win $50 dining gift cards. Winners will be drawn weekly from June 13 to Sept. 4.
The Colony Club.
COURTESY THE COLONY PALMS HOTEL AND BUNGALOWS
POOLSIDE DINING.
What’s better than dining alfresco? Dining poolside! Sol y Sombra at The Paloma Resort in Cathedral City features Mediterranean-inspired cuisine served alongside sunbathers and stunning mountain views. The Colony Club at The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows in Palm Springs prepares an array of fresh and vibrant dishes along with classic cocktails. Meanwhile, Roly China Fusion offers poolside dim sum and Asian-inspired classics at Del Marcos Hotel in Palm Springs. At the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs, a funky and relaxed vibe is always on order; you can take a table by the pool to scope out the crowds over handcrafted cocktails and fresh eats from the hotel’s Amigo Room bar and King’s Highway diner. For a colorful and wonderfully chic experience, head to The Pink Cabana at the Sands Hotel & Spa in Indian Wells to enjoy French-Moroccan cuisine and drinks in a gorgeous setting.
Liz Ostoich.
PHOTO BY AARON JAY YOUNG
A DAY WITH LIZ
Restaurateur Liz Ostoich is known for offering fresh, gourmet eats and fabulous cocktails at her four Palm Springs hot spots: Farm, The Front Porch at Farm, Tac/Quila, and Clandestino.
MORNING:
After waking up at Korakia and enjoying a gourmet coffee on the patio with a view of the mountain, bike to Zin American Bistro, Grand Central, or Wilma & Frieda. Nothing starts the day like a colorful mimosa and eggs Benedict.
NOON:
Palm Springs Art Museum is a desert treasure. Its rotating exhibits honor modernists, California plein air, and local contemporary artists such as Phillip K. Smith III. Follow your museum visit with a modernism tour with Michael Stern of The Modern Tour and a treat at Great Shakes. Salted caramel is my favorite!
NIGHT:
After a well-deserved nap, enjoy walking downtown Palm Springs to scope out the many art and architecture installations and grab dinner at the trending Bar Cecil. I recommend it for the lively conversation and engaging staff.
ASK AN EXPERT
Is produce really less flavorful and nutritious than it used to be? Why?
So many of the farming operations have gone under a corporate structure. There’s a [saying] in agriculture: “For a tree or plant to produce its highest quality, the farmer’s shadow has to fall on the plant.” The only way that happens is the farmer has to be there. If there’s no shadow, there’s no quality. … I remember [saying], “I do not like dates.” Then, I changed my phraseology. I said, “You know, it’s not that I don’t like dates. I don’t like lousy dates.” I learned how to make them taste even better. I used my agricultural knowledge. There are many things you can do to get quality fruit, to nourish the tree. Our goal is to get our dates into the hands of as many people as possible. Because if you like dates, once you taste one of our dates, you tend to like them more.
— Sam Cobb, farmer and owner, Sam Cobb Farms in Desert Hot Springs
Gabino’s Creperie.
PHOTO COURTESY GABINO'S CREPERIE
SUMMER SALADS AND SANDWICHES.
If you want a quick and healthful lunch, place an order at one of these eateries. On the Mark Palm Springs, a gourmet market and deli, stocks an array of artisan cheeses, pâtes, and other picnic items and also makes sandwiches to order. Down the street, Gabino’s Creperieserves salads and savory crêpes from a walk-up window, while Townie Bagels tops their water-boiled bagels with lox and other sandwich fixings. In Indio, sandwich-focused TKB Bakery & Deli was named by Yelp as the No. 1 restaurant in America in 2018, beating out even Michelin-starred destinations.
SWANKY SPEAKEASIES.
Looking for libations somewhere off the beaten path? Greater Palm Springs is home to a few speakeasies and underground bars. The aviation-themed PS Air Bar inside the wine and liquor store Bouschet in Palm Springs features bartenders dressed as flight attendants, airplane seats for lounging, and flight-themed cocktails. Nearby Truss & Twine presents a modern, industrial-style spot with desert-inspired bites and imaginative sips, and Tailor Shop uses bitters, florals, and fresh ingredients to create contemporary drinks. At Parker Palm Springs, Counter Reformation wine bar offers a global menu, and Seymour’s, tucked behind a curtain in Mr. Lyons Steakhouse, sets a moody scene for its inventive concoctions.
The Penney & Parlour.
COURTESY THE PENNEY & PARLOUR.
TRENDY BARS AND LOUNGES.
Order a creative cocktail inspired by recipes from the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s at GiGi’s Palm Springs, a Tulum-meets-Beverly-Hills restaurant at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. The Penney & Parlour at Desert Island Country Club in Rancho Mirage features a library of rare spirits and a light-bites menu to enjoy while listening to a live pianist. For summer spritzes and craft cocktails, Little Bar in Palm Desert is another lively spot. (Try the key lime pie martini!) If whiskey is your jam, look no further than Blackbook, which stocks more than 450 bottles alongside beer, seltzers, and hard kombucha. Open late on El Paseo in Palm Desert, the elevated Libation Room lounge attracts an interesting mix of locals.
La Quinta Brewing Co.
COURTESY LA QUINTA BREWING CO.
DRINK LOCAL.
With three locations in Greater Palm Springs, La Quinta Brewing Co. serves a variety of award-winning beers. Coachella Valley Brewing Co. in Thousand Palms uses locally sourced ingredients for their brews, and Taproom 29 at Coachella’s Spotlight 29 Casino serves theirs at precisely 29 degrees. In Palm Desert, Desert Beer Company pairs a laid-back atmosphere with rotating taps. For a side of barbecue with your beer, head to Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Breweryin Rancho Mirage. If tacos are more your style, choose Luchador Brewing Company in Cathedral City. And if you’re more of a vodka or bourbon-whiskey person, pick up a locally distilled bottle of Racquet Club Spirits, available at stores around the valley.
Delicias Mexican Cuisine.
PHOTO BY MOLLIE KIMBERLING
MAD ABOUT MARGARITAS.
In the desert, margaritas are perfect after a warm, sunny day by the pool. Bar Chingona in Palm Springs offers three options: classic, watermelon, and diabla with habanero syrup. Sample more than one flavor with a tasting flight at Tac/Quila in Palm Springs (spicy cucumber, watermelon tamarind, pineapple passion fruit, and hibiscus pineapple) or Delicias Mexican Cuisine in Desert Hot Springs (prickly pear, watermelon, passion fruit, and pineapple guajillo). Azúcar at La Serena Villas in Palm Springs makes a mean blood orange margarita with tangy fruit purée and tequila reposado. And remember the lime margaritas. Those in the know head to Las Palmas Mexican Cuisine in Desert Hot Springs for the $4.95 weekend special.