Sheri’s Palm Springs Area Blog

Dining Around The Desert: Cork & Fork’s New Fall Menu

Cork & Fork Wine Bar, La Quinta

Cork & Fork Wine Bar offers small plates using the highest quality ingredients, organic and sustainable whenever possible. The new Fall Menu is one of their best and my husband Bill, and I have often been enjoying it.

One of my favorites is the Grilled Figs served with Burrata on Prosciutto, drizzled with truffle honey, olive oil, balsamic and basil and topped with candied pecans. My other go-to is the Crispy Cauliflower with a Sriracha aioli, Pine Nut Gremolata and pomegranate molasses. It’s addictive, trust me!

Comfort Food Also Served Here

If you are a comfort food lover, and who isn’t, consider the Grown Up Grilled Cheese with braised short rib, aged sharp cheddar, smoky tomato jam and truffled arugula.

Bill’s favorite Cork & Fork pizza is the Nonno with smoked mozzarella, Fulvio’s Italian sausage, shallots, rosemary and balsamic. Consider also the Rustic with wild mushroom mélange, parmesan, alfredo, gorgonzola, mozzarella and fresh herbs.

Cork & Fork also offers a nice selection of salads, street tacos, and soups. In fact, the soups are some of the best we’ve had from Tomato Basil to French Onion with a twist.

Eclectic & Affordable Wine List

Cork & Fork also features an eclectic list of affordable wines and beers by the glass and bottle, with pairing advice for their dishes.

If you’ve been reading these reviews for any length of time, you’ll know that I’m a dessert lover and the Butterscotch Pot Du Crème with crème fraiche and Maldon flake sea salt is delicious. They also feature a special gelato or sorbet every night.

This review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the excellent Cork & Fork staff including Chef Andie of course. Cork & Fork Wine Bar is located at 47875 Caleo Bay in La Quinta (760) 777-7555

Dining Around The Desert: Mimmo’s Italian Restaurant & Bar

Keeping Our Recent Italy Trip Food Experience Going

Having just returned from our Italy vacation in September, you might think that my husband Bill and I might have had enough Italian food for a while. You’d be wrong!

Here we discovered a gem of a restaurant hiding in plain site right off of Hwy 111 and San Pablo in South Palm Desert. Mimmo’s opened just over two years ago and has been going strong ever since.

Dine Inside Or Out Front In The Patio Area

Victoria, Sheri Dettman & Mimmo

The owners, Mimmo and Victoria Di Salvo warmly greeted us at the entrance and offered us our choice of seating either out front on the enclosed patio or inside. And as soon as we were seated our waiter appeared at the table, offering water and bread with a wonderfully flavorful tapenade that was bursting with a fresh olive goodness.

The menu has something for everyone with a good selection of Starters, Pasta, Fish, Meat and Chicken, not to mention desserts. Mimmo's also offers a large selection of wines both by the glass and the bottle.

House Made With Top Quality Ingredients

Mimmo's strives to use only top quality local produce, high-quality meats and fish; fresh picked herbs from their garden, organic eggs, sugars and whole grain flours. Mimmo's sauces, breads and desserts are all made in-house and was reflected in every dish we ordered.

My Caprese salad appetizer had a flavorful Balsamic Reduction drizzled on top, and Bill's evening special of vegetable soup was perfection.

For dinner, I enjoyed the fresh Halibut special with lemon and cherry tomatoes with a side of sautéed spinach. The fish was perfectly cooked, light and delicious. Bill ordered the Veal Scaloppine alla Sicula topped with eggplant, tomato sauce and mozzarella. His two sides were Mimmo’s special carrots (think back to the day when carrots cooked in butter and brown sugar at home) and a wonderful soft polenta.

For dessert, we enjoyed house made Tiramisu and the Sicilian Cannoli which has the added touch of Rum and Chocolate Chips in the Ricotta. La Dolce Vita indeed!

Owners Mimmo & Victoria Are Passionate About Food & Service

Mimmo's Patio Area

What made the dining experience come together were the owners. Mimmo and Victoria are lovely, personable people, full of passion for food and for their restaurant and ready to share that with their guests.

Bill mentioned to me that the staff seemed happy to be working there. And as we witnessed, they train their staff well and are hands on to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Here They Know Your Name

As we enjoyed our evening at Mimmo's, group after group arrived, with many being addressed by name. I assume these diners would not be returning if they weren’t pleased with their Mimmo's dining experience.

Bill and I look forward to returning to Mimmo’s, and I’m sure that this will become one of our “go to” places for dinner here in the Palm Springs area.

Mimmo’s Restaurant & Bar: 73-540 Hwy 111 in Palm Desert (760) 346-9712. Closed Sunday’s.