A seat at the table of chef de cuisine Brandon Testi at bluEmber—Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa’s signature restaurant—is always a feast for the senses. Never more so than when Brandon and his team serve up a special event. “Taste of Rancho” is a new pop-up dinner series that launched at bluEmber on…
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There are certain time-tested things in my life—my favorite black velvet dinner jacket, my collection of Streisand LPs (now on Apple Music), and those comfy loafers that refuse to age—to which I return to time and time again, especially when I’m in need of comfort. Out in the world—or should I say, out in my…
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Gluttony knows there’s nary a reason to ever travel outside of Rancho Mirage city limits to nourish your inner foodie. That’s because my hometown has restaurants of every stripe. Every cuisine. Every price point. Every atmosphere. All that said, I must admit that I recently ventured to Palm Springs come dinnertime. I did so to…
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It’s fitting that the Italian word “gioia” means “joy,” because it seems everyone at this new Neapolitan eatery at The River in Rancho Mirage is full of this infectious emotion: native Italian owners Salvatore Evangelista and Luca Ricca, general manager Giada Ingegnoso, chef Luigi Mauro, and even server Nathan. Housed in the space that used…
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The fall season may not bring brilliant kaleidoscopic foliage to the Palm Springs Valley, but in many of Rancho Mirage’s best kitchens, it brings change of a culinary sort. To wit, Chef Juan Leon of Pinzimini, the signature restaurant of the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, has just released his new autumnal menu…
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How do I love Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar? Let me count the ways. First of all, it’s where some of the best beef in the Palm Springs Valley can be found, seven nights a week. Then there’s the bar menu’s “5 For $6 ’Til 7” and “8 For $9 ’Til 10” promotions, which…
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How European is Si Bon Belgian Bistro in Rancho Mirage? For starters, chef/owner Philippe Caupain and his wife, Edith, have chosen to label all the ingredient bins in the kitchen in French. There are the two clocks in the restaurant—one on local time, one on Brussels time. Street scenes from the home country adorn the…
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Since it’s been around for an impressive almost 47 years, I think it’s safe to say the world-renowned Old Spaghetti Factory has proven itself—and then some. With a warm atmosphere, a caring staff, and a simple but delicious classic Italian menu (including the brand’s famous, über affordable 3-Course Meal), it’s a beloved local hot spot…
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“Ours is absolutely the only bar in Rancho Mirage to handcraft its syrups and use fresh juices in all of its cocktails,” head bartender Neil Goetz of State Fare Bar + Kitchen at The Ritz-Carlton tells me. Just some of the indispensable sweet liquids that Goetz and his team fashion daily include rosemary lemon, date…
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How do you improve on perfection? I’d say a Palm Springs Valley first—like placing a whole roasted suckling pig on your menu—would do it. But I’m getting ahead of myself… I’m so happy to report that one of my favorite Rancho Mirage eateries—Catalan Mediterranean Cuisine—has reopened for business after its August hiatus. But rather than…
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