Dining Around The Desert

Dining Around The Desert: Tiramisu Ristorante, Palm Desert

Tiramisu, A Taste Of Sicily Right Here In The Desert

After years of hearing and knowing about Tiramisu Ristorante, my husband Bill and I finally decided to make our way there last night. The location is one that you’ll need to look for, but it’s right off of Hwy 111 and the Western entrance from El Paseo is not difficult to find. It’s a cute little space and it feels like you are in someone’s home. There is no bar and it probably seats about 40 people inside as well as the small outside patio.

Marika, who together with Chef/husband Mario Marfia are the proprietors, greeted us. The Tiramisu staff was extremely friendly, attentive and professional and the service was first rate.

Itailian Pinto Grigio & Mendocino Chardonnay

Sheri Dettman At Tiramisu, Palm Desert

Bill started out with a glass of Italian Pinot Grigio and I enjoyed a chardonnay from Mendocino. Both went nicely with the bread and caponata they brought us to start. Tiramisu offers a nice selection of wines by the glass and the bottle with a mix of vintages from Italy and California.

The special appetizer of the evening was heirloom tomatoes and burrata with capers that we shared. The tomatoes were flavorful and the burrata was creamy and delicious.

I ordered the Ravioli Di Ricotta, which is ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach in a butter and sage sauce. The pasta was delicate, cooked perfectly and just the right portion.

Bill had the special whole fish of the night. Dover sole served with mixed vegetables. The fish was moist and simply prepared and the vegetables were cooked perfectly.

And Now For The Best Part, Dessert!

For dessert we had to try the tiramisu, right? We also ordered the cannelloni which I thought was even better than the tiramisu. It had a nice bite to the ricotta and the shell was crisp but not hard.

Overall Tiramisu is a nice little restaurant with excellent service. We noticed a lot of regulars being welcomed back while we were dining. This week we are looking forward to trying Tiramisu’s newest venture, il Corso also in Palm Desert. I'll write about our visit their next month and post it here, as well as in our monthly Palm Springs Real Estate newsletter.

Tiramisu Ristorante is located at 72655 Highway 111, Suite 6 in Palm Desert. Reservations suggested.(760) 773-9100

Dining Around The Desert: The Bistro At Fantasy Springs

Several of our local casinos offer some great choices for dining. That said I usually avoid dining in them because usually I have to walk through a smoky casino floor to get to them.

My husband Bill suggested we try The Bistro at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio. The online reviews were very good so I agreed to take a chance on casino dining. The ambiance of The Bistro is a little old school. You’ll find a dark square shaped bar near the entry where some people also choose to eat. A large open kitchen area and a sushi bar fill one side of the dining room.

Extensive Menu Choices At The Bistro

Bill and I were seated at a comfortable four top table and the service was both friendly and punctual. The Bistro menu is rather extensive offering sushi, steaks, fish, chops, salads and a number of appetizers. Normally when I find sushi in a non-sushi restaurant I pass, but our server Adrienne informed us that their sushi was flown in fresh from Hawaii almost daily and was very good.

Before we ordered our food, I enjoyed a Slim-Tini cocktail with coconut vodka, pineapple, agave nectar, fresh lemon and toasted coconut on the rim. Simply divine! Bill chose a glass of Fume Blanc from the Bistro wine list.

Sampling The Starters

For starters I ordered the seared scallop-tempura shrimp roll from the sushi menu. Bill chose a vine ripe tomato with buffalo mozzarella salad that included imported Speck ham, EVOO, balsamic syrup and fresh basil. We sampled each other’s choices and enjoyed them both.

Choosing an entrée was a little difficult because of all the choices. Adrienne helped me choose the Chicken and Crab Fontina with an organic chicken breast, lump crab, asparagus, mushroom risotto and a fontina glaze. I recommend this entrée, but you’ll likely be taking half home with you.

Bill asked Adrienne to surprise him as he was torn between the lamb chops and a seared pork mignon. The double cut Colorado lamp chops made the cut and were cooked perfectly. A mild Khadrawi date curry sauce was listed on the menu but Bill didn’t detect any curry, which he really enjoys.

We Didn't Miss Out On Dessert

Adrienne suggested we next sample a little date bread pudding. And while I wouldn’t really call this bread pudding, Bill and I made fast work of the delicious dessert with caramelized walnuts, vanilla ice cream, Grand Mariner anglaise with toffee sauce.

We came to discover that our server’s husband is the food and beverage manager at Andalusia At Coral Mountain in La Quinta. I’m in Andalusia on a regular basis working with buyer and seller clients so I’ll make it a point to say hello on my next visit. And kudos to her for offering great service.

The Bistro is a good choice for discovering a menu filled with lots of variety in a comfortable old school setting. From sushi to fish to big juicy steaks, everyone in your party will likely find something to enjoy.

Bistro Dining Tip: Enter through the hotel entrance to avoid having to walk through the smoke filled casino.

You'll find the Bistro located at 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway in Indio, just off the 10 Freeway. (760) 342-5000.

Eureka, Indian Wells (Dining Around The Desert)

If you enjoy dining out you likely also enjoy checking out new and interesting restaurants. Eureka is a new ‘American Craft’ concept in several California locations. Their newest location recently opened here in Indian Wells at the former site of Le St. Germain. Desert burger lovers will soon likely be exclaiming ‘Eureka, I have found it!’

Basically this is a craft burger joint and more offering, and I quote “handmade food, locally sourced produce and fresh baked breads found throughout our chef driven menu. Eureka offers 100% vegetarian fed, hormone and antibiotic free, all natural beef burgers, hand cut fries plus gourmet salads and signature salads.”

Opening Night At Eureka

My husband, Bill, and I just happened to visit Eureka on their opening night after about a week of soft openings including a night when one of my team members was able to sample the menu and gave it her thumbs up.

The entire space at Eureka is new and tastefully done in earth tones and they offer a small patio out front with misters for those warm summer days. We chose to dine at the bar inside where we ran into about a half dozen friends and associates. It seems that the word spreads quickly here in the desert when new food and drink is offered!

Catalina Island Bison Burger

Bill ordered the Catalina Island sourced Bison Burger with tri-color peppers, Bermuda onion, and smoked mozzarella, finished with their house made bacon infused jalapeno jam. Bill will tell you that this combination was one of the best Bison Burgers that he’s sampled and that the Bison makes for a healthier choice than a beef burger. I told Bill that if I were to have a burger this would likely be the place I’d have it.

I went for the strawberry summer salad that featured grilled chicken over a bed of mixed greens tossed with you guessed it, strawberries, diced onion and tomato, cilantro, bleu cheese crumbles, candied pecans, basil and a strawberry vinaigrette dressing.

Knowing that it’s my job to sample other fare and report back, I ordered a side of Eureka Truffle Fries. Good, rich and likely enough fries to feed three or four. And again in the interest of gathering information Bill and I shared a Golden Gate Butterscotch Pudding. This dessert was really tasty but a bit grainy which was really our only complaint during the evening.

Wines, Craft Beers & Cocktails

Eureka offers a nice selections of wines and a couple dozen craft beers on tap in addition to a full bar and a few specialty cocktails. No reservations at Eureka so it’s first come first served and I’ll add that the place was packed on our Monday visit.

Eureka is located at 74985 Hwy 111, Indian Wells at the intersection of Cook and Hwy 111. (760) 834-7700. Be sure to say hello to Eureka's General Manager; Mika Tanimoto.

Dining Around The Desert: Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar, Palm Desert

The Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar is Wolfgang’s first Pizza Bar on the West Coast and offers another good dining option on El Paseo. Just opened this year, this new restaurant features a patio out front, an attractive bar area and two inside dining rooms. All of these features allow it to accommodate the full spectrum of guests, including sports fans, who can take advantage of four large screen TVs behind the bar.

Back In The Day, I Worked For Wolf

My husband, Bill, and I recently visited Wolfgang’s for dinner and drinks at the bar. I was especially interested because, back in the day, I worked for Wolf at his original Spago Restaurant in West Hollywood. Wolf’s Pizza Bar is of course considered casual dining compared to the fine dining offered at Spago.

I ordered the spinach and smoked mozzarella salad with red onions, crispy potatoes, and a warm pancetta vinaigrette dressing. It was excellent! Bill and I shared Wolfgang’s classic smoked salmon pizza with dill cream, salmon roe, red onions and chives. This pizza, while a bit different at Spago, was always one of my favorites and I was not disappointed on this visit.

A Variety Of App's, Salads, Entrees And Of Course, Pizza

Even if you're a picky eater, the menu at Wolfgang’s features enough variety for you to find something you can love. It includes an array of appetizers, salads, pastas, and entrees including chicken paillard, steak, salmon, hand-rubbed roasted pork and Ahi tuna. Fifteen individual pizzas also offered quite a variety to choose from; gluten-free and vegetarian dining options are also available.

As far as beverages are concerned, Wolfgang’s offers an interesting list of specialty cocktails, including my personal favorite, the Gin Basil, which is made with gin, fresh basil, cucumber, lemongrass and grapefruit juice. I changed it to vodka instead of gin and it was just as good as the original. Bill enjoyed a glass of New Harbour Sauvignon Blanc wine from New Zealand, which was featured on Wolfgang’s varied wine list.

Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar offers a Happy Hour from 3PM to 6PM daily, along with their new Bar Bites menu. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and is located at 73-130 El Paseo in Palm Desert. (760) 568-2700

Dining Arount The Desert: Mastro’s Steakhouse Palm Desert

My husband Bill and I visited the new Mastro’s Steakhouse in Palm Desert recently. We would have preferred to dine in the expansive lounge area but as we walked in with no reservations, the lounge tables were fully booked and the long bar was standing room only.

Being seated in one of several elegant dining rooms, Bill and I looked at each other and commented on how dark the room was. We asked our server about the light level and were told that it’s part of the vibe at Maestro’s and she proceeded to give us two flashlights.

Mastro's Pink Paloma

I started with one of Mastro’s featured cocktails, The Pink Paloma with Belvedere Pink Grapefruit Vodka, Thatcher’s Elderflower Liqueur, fresh mint, ruby red grapefruit juice and a splash of Sprite served tall over ice. Refreshing and light! Bill enjoyed a glass of red wine from the extensive wine list.

Next the Mastro’s breadbasket arrived! Hands down this was the best house baked bread that I’ve experienced in a long time. A lot of variety and every bite was quite simply delish! I told Bill I could of eaten nothing but bread, wine and a bit of cheese. Bill was off carbs for a couple of weeks so he enjoyed me enjoying the bread.

High Marks & Perfection

For our first course we ordered two salads that were both exceptionally good. For me the warm spinach salad is highly recommended. Bill gives high marks to the beefsteak tomato and onion salad–a perfect combination. Next course for me was the Scottish salmon fillet (wonderful) while Bill; keeping in the steakhouse theme of things, enjoyed a bone-in fillet that he said was perfection.

The service was very good although at times it seems there are almost too many bus persons moving through in the room. More space between the tables likely would have helped but this is a very busy place so space is likely at a premium.

Regarding the dark room lighting? It was so dark that we didn’t recognize a long time-server friend of ours that previously worked at Arnold Palmer’s in La Quinta for many years. Priscilla must have walked by our table dozens of times before we connected. We also discovered business acquaintances at the very next table after about 20 minutes.

A Little Pricey, But Then You Get What You Pay For

We will definitely return to Mastro’s. Yes it’s pricey but in this case I’d say you get what you pay for. Reservations are highly suggested including tables in the lounge. Mastro’s Steakhouse is located at 73-405 El Paseo, Palm Desert. (760) 776-6777

Dining Around The Desert: Fisherman’s Landing Bar & Grill

Fisherman’s Landing Bar & Grill is located within the JW Marriott Desert Springs mega resort in Palm Desert. Don’t let the resort hotel location scare you off though as Fisherman’s checked all our boxes that we look for in a restaurant.

Prior to opening this new location at the JW Marriott, the owners opened and still operate several popular Fisherman’s Market & Grill restaurants with three here in Palm Springs, Palm Desert and La Quinta. My husband Bill and I always enjoyed the food but we didn’t care that much for the self-service setups.

The new Fisherman’s Landing Bar & Grill offers diners a choice of sit down service in the large bar area or you can opt for self-service in the main dining room. Bill and I headed for the bar where we were promptly greeted and offered both dinner and bar food menus with extensive selections.

Some Great Menu Choices at Fisherman's

I enjoyed a fabulous Fisherman’s special salad featuring charbroiled Mahi-Mahi, cold jumbo shrimp and crab over fresh romaine with and red cabbage, tomatoes and shredded carrots. Bill raved about his Baja Fish Taco’s with beer-battered Alaskan Cod that was lightly fried and topped off with Pico de Gallo Salsa and Fisherman’s famous white sauce.

Fisherman’s offers a wide selection of fish, sandwiches, pastas, salads and soups. And for landlubber’s they also offer steaks, chicken and lamb chops and a special children’s menu.

Fisherman’s features a large outside deck overlooking the resorts pool and grounds. Inside, abundant windows provide good views from both the bar and dining areas. And for a large resort hotel we actually found Fisherman’s prices to be quite reasonable.

I highly recommend Fisherman’s Bar & Landing and Bill and I will be returning throughout the year. Parking tip. The resort valet parking is expensive, but you can have your valet ticket validated in the restaurant for free parking. If you haven’t visited this large resort you’ll want to spend some extra time exploring or taking a boat ride.

Fisherman’s Landing Bar & Grill is located at the JW Marriott Resort & Spa at 74-855 Country Club Drive in Palm Desert. (760) 341-2211