Fresh dining establishments are participating in the Grand Palm Springs Restaurant Week, kicking off from May 31 to June 9, 2024. During these ten exquisite days, a multitude of eateries throughout the Coachella Valley will offer exclusive multi-course menus for lunch, brunch, and dinner at set prices.
A notable newcomer to Palm Springs is Alice B., inaugurated by distinguished chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, recipients of the James Beard and Julia Child accolades. These illustrious culinary artists are pioneering as the inaugural superstar chefs to open an eatery in the Coachella Valley.
Melding the exceptional seasonal produce from Southern California with robust Mediterranean flavors, the gastronomic strategy is a collaborative endeavor among Feniger, Milliken, and the respected Executive Chef Lance Velasquez. The brunch and dinner selections are influenced by the region’s abundant summertime harvest.
Positioned near downtown Palm Springs, Alice B. is comfortably placed within the Living Out environs, a luxurious LGBTQ+ community fashioned as a resort, offering awe-inspiring vistas of the desert and mountain ranges.
The hospitable personnel at Alice B., a chic mid-century modern tavern and diner in Palm Springs, provide a genial reception to visitors within the bar, dining space, and the open-air eating terrace. Guests enjoying the bar and lounge can experience live performances on certain nights beside an intimate grand piano. Indulge in a classic mixed drink, wine, or non-alcoholic refreshment while soaking up the elegant and invigorating environment.
Showcased at the restaurant, the chefs’ culinary guides are available for patrons to purchase, allowing them to attempt reproducing some of the prizewinning dishes at home.
Throughout Restaurant Week, the Brunch menu is available for $35 per guest. Patrons may select from the daily biscuit with butter and seasonal spread, an assortment of fresh market fruits, yogurt with granola, and a choice of either brioche French toast or a Breakfast burrito.
A dinner during Restaurant Week, valued at $59, includes a selection of two Cornmeal Cheddar Drop Biscuits with cardamom honey, a Kenter Farms Baby Lettuce Salad with fried bread parmigiano reggiano, or a bowl of Spring Carrot and Ginger Soup for starters. Main course options feature Mendoza Farms Spiced Cauliflower and Eggplant, Seared Salmon with Kohlrabi remoulade and Arbequina olive almond relish, or Mary’s Seeded Chicken Cutlet accompanied by apple radish slaw.
Complete your culinary adventure with desserts like Tahini Ice Cream with chocolate sauce and crunchy sesame seed clusters, Seasonal Sorbet paired with a Pistachio Sugar Cookie, or a Chocolate Cake complemented by Luxardo cherries and whipped crème fraîche.
Motivated by the captivating lives of Alice B. Toklas and her companion Gertrude Stein, the restaurant offers a hospitable setting for all to enjoy a lively epicurean voyage surrounded by spirited art and design. Portraits of Alice and Gertrude are central to the dining area’s decor, with the establishment featuring a rotating art gallery that celebrates the pair’s creative heritage, predominantly from local female and LGBTQ+ artists.
INTERESTING FACT: Living Out recently announced on their Facebook page that former First Lady Michelle Obama and actress Rita Wilson dined at Alice B. last month. This restaurant has quickly become a hot topic and a priority on many people’s dining lists.
For a delightful gourmet weekend getaway, Agua Caliente Casinos in Rancho Mirage present a special dineGPS menu at Waters Cafe. This opulent four-star Forbes-rated resort is home to three dining spots joining dineGPS, including Waters Cafe, 360 Sports, and The Steakhouse.
Waters Cafe is offering a sumptuous three-course dinner with a choice of a crisp green salad or hearty soup to start, a duo of primary dishes, and finishing with a tempting apple crumble tart coupled with vanilla ice cream and caramel glaze.
This distinguished dining experience during Restaurant Week is accessible for $39 per patron.
INTERESTING FACT: At Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage, Java Caliente is renowned for their chocolate chip ‘everything’ cookie, a must-try along with their coffees, teas, invigorating smoothies, and protein shakes while visiting the resort.
Debuted in November 2023, Life House Palm Springs has been stirring considerable interest in the locale. Immerse into an updated take on a mid-century celebrity sanctuary from the 1960s. This newly opened property hosts an additional participant in this year’s Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week.
Savor a lunch valued at $25 or a sumptuous dinner for two at Minerva’s Palm Springs for just $59. Augment your meal with a wine pairing for every course at an added $25 per guest.
Opt for a snug booth next to the indoor bar or capture the majestic Mount Jacinto view among soaring palm trees outdoors. Begin your dinner with stone-cooked focaccia and bruschetta, proceed to a charcuterie assortment, and choose from mains like freshly-caught branzino or a lush eggplant parmesan.
Every Life House Hotel relays a narrative linked to an eminent historical personality, infusing distinctiveness and allure into each destination. This historical element is woven into the artistic decor for travelers to appreciate.
Minerva’s salutes Minerva Hamilton Hoyt, a fervent desert enthusiast and campaigner. Determined to preserve the Coachella Valley’s mystical charm, she profoundly publicized the desert’s marvels to encourage its conservation and preserve the enigmatic ambiance of Palm Springs.
Indulge in a culinary weekend at Life House and arrange an overnight sojourn to coincide with the beginning of Restaurant Week. Room rates from May 31 to June 2, in a standard king room, are quoted slightly under $650 for a two-night stay.
INTERESTING FACT: Currently, there are six Life House Hotels, with three additional openings on the horizon in locales such as Miami, Denver, and Bali.
Centrally located in downtown Palm Springs, Drift Hotel exemplifies an ideal tranquil gourmet retreat. This establishment features guest lodgings and multibedroom arrangements, overlooking the resort-style gardens and swimming area, complemented by an indoor/outdoor diner and bar, perfect as an Airbnb substitute.
Make use of the complimentary beach cruisers for a jaunt around downtown Palm Springs or relax in a plush lounge chair or cabana beside the sprawling pool.
The dining establishment Maleza, situated at the entrance of this boutique hotel, provides an authentic Baja-inspired dining atmosphere. Maleza translates from Spanish as ‘dense undergrowth’ or ‘springing from the earth.’
Noted chef Ysaac Ramirez serves some of the best guacamole and chips in the vicinity all year round. For Restaurant Week, his famed guacamole with chips and a duo of tacos are offered at $25 per person for lunchtime. Don’t miss out on sampling one of the handcrafted cocktails with captivating titles like – Tequila, A Love Story.
INTERESTING INFO: Drift runs three additional hospitality venues located in San Jose del Cabo, Nashville, TN, and Santa Barbara, CA.
The esteemed Café 54 within Augustine Casino in Coachella introduces an appealing Restaurant Week dinner feature for $35. Chef Victor Ruiz is assembling a sophisticated three-course selection beginning with an Iceberg salad adorned with bay shrimp and Chef Victor’s exquisite vinaigrette dressing. Alternatively, one may opt for his carrot and ginger soup.
The principle dish includes an 8-ounce top sirloin steak crafted Oscar style, accompanied by Dauphine potatoes and in-season vegetables. Conclude your dining with strawberries and a sumptuous crème anglaise. With a background forged at Morton’s Steakhouse, Chef Victor showcases his proficiency in searing steaks and his ardor for devising unforgettable meals for diners.
INTERESTING INFO: Augustine Casino founded Tamalpakh Farms in homage to the Cahuilla Tribe. This tribe consists of 19 individuals, featuring 12 adults and three tribal leaders devoted to nurturing a sustainable lifestyle for the community in the Coachella Valley. Powered by 25,000 solar panels, the farm provides power for the casino, tribal headquarters, and itself. They tap into groundwater sources and use retention ponds for crop irrigation. The local populace may order boxes of seasonal farm produce and acquire freshly-grown goods at the farm’s market.
Get involved in the Restaurant Week celebrations and by booking online through OpenTable, which will donate $1 to FIND Food Bank, a local group distributing over 10 million pounds of food annually throughout Greater Palm Springs.
This season offers a broader selection of prix-fixe menu options and a unique deal available exclusively during Restaurant Week. Partaking restaurants present distinctive two-course brunch and lunch menus starting at $15. Several locations propose a three-course or grander dinner menu with initial rates of $39, $49, and $59. Meal costs and times might differ according to the restaurant, not including drinks, tax, and service charges.
The allure of dineGPS is that there is no requirement for passes, tickets, or vouchers. Simply book a spot through the website or directly contact the participating restaurant. While reservations in advance are greatly advised, last-minute guests are welcome subject to seating capacity.
The yearly event is followed by the Summer Eats Mobile Dining Discount Pass, commencing June 10, featuring exclusive dining deals all summer long. Uncover the nine-city oasis of Greater Palm Springs, taking in spots like Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and Indian Wells.
INTERESTING INFO: Each $1 donation to FIND Food Bank facilitates the provision of four meals to those grappling with food insufficiency in the vicinity.
Image Source: www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com
