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From Sheri Dettman
Barbara and Jerry Keller have returned to Rancho Mirage with an expanded restaurant featuring a tried-and-true menu crafted at Lulu’s.
Erin Peters August 15, 2017 Restaurants, The Guide
Tony and Karen Barone’s “Forks on their Way to Nirvana” grace the façade of Acqua California Bistro along Highway 111.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ACQUA CALIFORNIA BISTRO
This is the only place in the Coachella Valley you’ll be able to dine on the water with colorful, flying forks.
The feel is “very Luluesque,” says John Shay, vice president of operations at Lulu and Acqua California Bistros. “The menu that migrated to Lulu’s was the original Acqua Pazza menu. And now, the menu here is identical to the Lulu menu, so it’s a little bit of a homecoming for most people.”
See related story: 5 Best Places for a Hot Dog
Creators Jerry and Barbara Keller are making their second foray at The River with Acqua California Bistro after opening Acqua Pazza more than 10 years ago. Acqua Pazza closed in 2015.
As you walk toward the new Acqua California Bistro, you’ll notice the Barone sculptures. Tony and Karen Barone’s “Forks on their Way to Nirvana” grace the façade of Acqua along Highway 111. Playful artwork with splashy colors continues once you head inside as “Love & Peace M” by Curry Mendes greets guests in the foyer.
PHOTO BY ERIN PETERS
Papa’s Wall refers to Marvin Cohn, the father of Barbara Keller. At 105, Cohn still paints and creates two new ones a week.
A plethora of paintings follow on many of the walls courtesy of 105-year-old Marvin Cohn. Cohn, a Rancho Mirage resident, is the father of Acqua and Lulu co-founder Barbara Keller and has been painting since the 1950s.
His style reflects modernism and Cubist periods with nods to Matisse and Picasso mixed in with contemporary personalities from the upcoming Comic Con Palm Springs. And he’s not slowing down anytime soon. Cohn is currently creating two paintings every week.
Acqua Bistro includes a new addition called the “River Room.” This additional dining area also serves as a great space for parties and events. They’ve expanded the patio and took out the trellises. The result is more seats for restaurant-goers and a better view of the The River and Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains.
PHOTO BY ERIN PETERS
The “River Room” expands the dining capabilities, especially during the season when the glass doors can be rolled back to reveal perfect mountain views.
Beyond aesthetics, the restaurant has added to its arsenal with the renewal of a second kitchen where culinary technology saves time and conjures up delicious meals. This includes several pages in the menu for vegetarian and gluten-free options.
“We’re able to yield two or three more slices per rib,” said Shay, “because there’s less shrinkage, and it’s a higher quality.”
PHOTO BY JIM POWERS
A new second kitchen (in the background) offers greater serving opportunities in a timely manner.
“We’re thrilled to be returning to Rancho Mirage,” said Jerry Keller, creator of Acqua and Lulu California Bistro. “Time and again over the past three years, our loyal guests have been asking Barbara and me to return to Rancho Mirage, and the Keller family is so happy to be back with this new restaurant and an amazing menu.”
See related story: 8 Places to Taste Great Barbecue
Shay said they hope to serve an additional 200 people compared to the old Acqua Pazza, putting them close to over 500 seats total.
“I think people were waiting for us to come back. I think people are happy that we’re back, and I think this is just an updated version of what people used to love about this place,” Shay said.
Acqua California Bistro, 71700 Highway 111, The River, Rancho Mirage; 760-862-9800; acquaranchomirage.com
Acqua California Bistro Arrives at The River was last modified: August 22nd, 2017 by Erin Peters
From Sheri Dettman
Since 1960, Elmer's has been providing delicious food and personable, gracious service, making every meal a memorable family dining experience. Known for Walt Elmer's famous buttermilk pancakes and the Classic German Pancake, which is "almost as big as Crater Lake," Elmer's is a staple in the Northwest for its mouthwatering breakfast items and fresh, seasonal entreés.
The menu features traditional fl avors and Northwest favorites such as Boyd's Coffee, Oregon Marionberry syrup, Tillamook cheese, and sausages from Portland-based Zenner's Sausage Company.
While the food is a star in its own right, it's the service that makes guests smile. Led by local owner Jacky Donnell and a genuine, friendly team, Palm Springs' Elmer's delights in welcoming desert residents as well as Northwestern snowbirds craving a taste of home. The dining room, adorned with historic and scenic Palm Springs photography, is inviting and comfortable, while the outdoor, pet-friendly patio with vistas of Mount San Jacinto is the perfect place to sip mimosas.
In addition to winning local Best Breakfast awards, Elmer's has also received national recognition in the category of Family Restaurants for taste, value, service, and mood. Elmer's is proud of the reputation it has built as a local favorite and strives to be the restaurant of choice for generations of families. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Website
From Sheri Dettman
In Dining Around The Desert
Cliffhouse, La Quinta
My team, along with our friend Dean, enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the main dining room of the Cliffhouse this past week. It was the first time that several of us had been in the dining room for dinner in years as we typically sit in the lounge or bar area for dinner.
The dining room was a nice change, especially for a larger group. The service was good, the staff friendly, the food was excellent and a good time was had by all.
Dean and I shared the Roasted Beet Salad with candied pecans and goat cheese, and then we each had the Sugar-Spiced Salmon with Chinese beans and mustard sauce. I indulged in the garlic mashed potatoes, and Dean did not! He's good that way!
Ed had the Blackened Catfish with Yukon potato, white corn succotash, Emily had the Caesar Salad with sourdough croutons, Beverly enjoyed the Ahi Poke Bowl, and Norma started with the Prosciutto and Figs and then partook of the Roasted Maine Scallops with parsnip puree in a lemon-butter sauce. Everyone dove into the Ice Cream Pie and Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brûlée.
We pretty much cleaned our plates and enjoyed every bite.
Beverly, Norma, Sheri, Dean, Emily and Ed
Cliffhouse is located right on Hwy 111 near Washington.
For hours, menus and more, click here...
From Sheri Dettman
In Dining Around The Desert
We just had new team photos shot this week. We use the best portrait photographer in the Valley and he comes to our office to make it easy as pie. Always improving, always growing!
From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri Dettman & Associates
My favorite (so far) is the Tuna Hana made with a White or Brown Rice, Tuna, Cucumber, Onion, Hijiki Seaweed, Hana Sauce, Edamame, Crab Salad, Masago, Avocado, Mango, Toasted Sesame, and Crispy Garlic. Beverly gets the same thing but with Spring Mix instead of Rice.
Emily likes the Salmon Kai with Spring Mix, Salmon, Onion, Cucumber, Red Cabbage, Sweet Chili Citrus, Edamame, Seaweed Salad, Corn, Avocado, Masago, Toasted Sesame, and Crispy Onion.
Of course, you can customize your bowl as you like. Another cool thing is that you can order online and they tell you exactly what time you can pick up your order.
Pokehana is located at:
78742 Highway 111
Suite A
La Quinta, CA 92253 [map]
(760) 564-0004
Hours 11:00AM - 8:30PM
From Sheri Dettman
In Dining Around The Desert
The sleek hotel will boast some of the best views—and the only rooftop pool—in town.
Dusty Palm Springs is in the midst of a major revitalization, with a flux of new restaurants, boutiques, and luxurious hotel opening in the heart of the resort town. Leading the charge of city’s modern transformation is Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs, which will be downtown Palm Spring’s first new build hotel to open in decades when it welcomes its inaugural set of guests in October.
The Rowan marks Kimpton’s first venture into the region, and the brand—which is largely known for luxurious urban oasis—has artfully mixed its city-slicker style with the midcentury modern high-desert design that has come to define Palm Springs. The resulting sleek seven-story building is filled with natural light—making the most of the dramatic San Jacinto Mountains and Coachella Valley vistas by employing windows at every turn. For an even better way to take in the sweeping views, guests of the hotel can head to the rooftop—which is the highest rooftop in the city, and the only one to feature a sparklingly blue pool.
When not out enjoying a cocktail from the comfort of a poolside deck lounger or grabbing a bite to eat at the elegant 4 Saints rooftop restaurants, guests can go hiking on one of the nearby trail heads or take refuge in the air-conditioned sanctuary of the Palm Springs Art museum—both just steps away from the property.
After busy days spent exploring and lounging by the pool, guests will retreat to one of the property’s stylish 153 rooms and suites. Each is outfitted in crisp whites and cool blues, and accented by sleek midcentury-inspired furnishings. Although many of the rooms feature balconies offer sweeping views of the desert outside, the double wrap-around balconies of the 1,500 square-foot Arlo Suite offer the best vantage point for watching the sun set over the valley.
A vintage Airstream trailer turned into a luxury suite, a restaurant run by local chefs, a spa, an entertainment stage and a gallery exhibiting the works of local artists are among the amenities to be featured in Palm Desert’s first hotel on El Paseo.
Hotel Paseo, the three-story, 150-room luxury boutique hotel – the city’s first new luxury hotel built in more than 30 years – is on schedule to open late October or early November, general manager Gil Reyes said.
Construction started on the $36 million hotel in November 2015.
Part of the Evolution Hospitality and Autograph Collection Hotels family which operates under the Marriott umbrella, Hotel Paseo will offer many unique features, Reyes said.
One thing about Autograph Collection Hotels is that they don't replicate each other in design.
“Each has its own story to tell,” Reyes said.
For Hotel Paseo, the story is, “Find Your Path,” which lends itself to the immediate and surrounding area with a variety of restaurants, shopping, entertainment, hiking and other “adventure” options, all within a short distance of the hotel.
Built on a vacant lot at 45-400 Larkspur Lane, which for many years was home to Fashion Week El Paseo, the hotel is well situated across from the annual event’s current location – the top level of The Gardens on El Paseo parking garage.
“This is a great location,” Reyes said.
READ MORE: Hotel, restaurants part of new Palm Desert development
Leading a hard-hat tour of the construction site, he pointed to a large wooden crate against the north wall of the pool area.
“That’s the Airstream trailer,” Reyes said, which will serve as the hotel’s 150th room.
As plans for the hotel were being laid out, Marriott wanted to expand the size of the gym on the first floor, which meant loss of a room, he said.
Hotel owner and co-developer Robert Leach proposed putting a fully renovated and furnished Airstream on the property, turning it into a specialty suite that can have a variety of uses, Reyes said.
Construction on the three-story Hotel Paseo on Larkspur Lane, Palm Desert's first hotel on El Paseo, continues on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2017. (Photo: Richard Lui/The Desert Sun)
The main entrance is off of Larkspur Lane and takes guests right into the lobby area with check-in to their left and a spacious seating area to their right where the works of local artists will be exhibited on the north wall. The work will be rotated quarterly, Reyes said.
Three of the desert’s popular restaurateurs are teamed up to open AC3 restaurant and Bar, on the north end of the hotel which will be open to the public. With full bar, indoor and patio seating the restaurant will be able to seat about 200, Reyes said.
Also open to the public will be the hotel’s expansive spa with seven treatment rooms. The spa operator will be announced soon, he said.
READ MORE: Palm Desert building on tourism, looking for more hotels
The 2,000-square-foot outdoor area will have artificial lawn, a pool with three private cabanas, an in-ground whirlpool spa, café with bar, fire pit, stage for live performances plus bocce ball court, cornhole toss and shuffle board games. Outdoor movie screenings are also planned, Reyes said.
Reyes has worked in the hospitality industry for about 20 years, the past 11 in senior management positions. He was hired to run Hotel Paseo about three months ago, and he and his wife wasted no time relocating from Anaheim, buying a house in Palm Desert for them and their four children.
Hotel Paseo's boardroom under construction on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2017 in Palm Desert. The 150-room, three-story luxury boutique hotel is on track to open this fall. (Photo: Richard Lui/The Desert Sun)
“I really want to be a part of the community,” Reyes said, adding he is already on the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors.
TOURISM: Montage bringing its two hotel brands to SilverRock
Minus the restaurant, the hotel will employ up to 60 full- and part-time positions. Applications are being taken now for management positions and will be accepted for front line jobs starting at the end of August. Applications are available online at www.evolutionhospitality.com.
Room rates will range from the mid-$200s to $600 per night, Reyes said, depending on time of year and room size. In addition to the Airstream, eight other specialty suites include a “Billiards Suite” with billiards table, record player with a collection of old and new vinyl, wet bar and lounge area.
Rooms can now be booked online at www.hotelpaseo.com for dates starting in January. As construction continues and an opening date is solidified, fall dates can start to be booked, Reyes said.
How do we know what’s the best of its kind in Greater Palm Springs? Because our readers — residents and visitors — tell us.
STAY
Boutique Hotel/Resort
Desert Hot Springs Two Bunch Palms The recently renovated property makes health and wellness in all areas its priority, from its spa treatments to shaman sessions. 67425 Two Bunch Palms Trail. 760-329-8791; twobunchpalms.com
La Quinta The Chateau at Lake La Quinta This boutique 24-room hotel offers picturesque views of Lake La Quinta, plus gourmet dining and a contemporary vibe. 78120 Caleo Bay. 760-564-7332; thechateaulakelaquinta.com
Palm Springs Sparrow’s Lodge A rustic-chic boutique property where guests get a chance to unplug: Rooms are without distractions like phones and televisions. Instead, relax in charming communal spaces such as the barn-enclosed restaurant or around the outdoor fire pit. 1330 E. Palm Canyon Drive. 760-327-2300; sparrowslodge.com
hotel/resort
Cathedral City DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Golf Resort The renovated property delights guests with amenities including a golf course, tennis courts, Olympic-size swimming pool, and full-service spa. 67967 Vista Chino. 760-322-7000; doubletreepalmsprings.com