Right in the center of the Coachella Valley sits mellow Palm Desert, California. Most people travel to this laid back, expansive, resort-like enclave for sheer relaxation and rejuvenation. Whether it’s for sunning, shopping, dining, golf, tennis or a sublime spa experience, this haven has it all.
Every Spring, Palm Desert comes alive with the vibe and excitement of the Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival. The city pulls out all the stops to make this annual event a reason alone to visit. While there are many ancillary events planned during the week to kick things off, the highlight is the weekend Grand Tasting events and Chef Demos — all of which are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday.
Located in the parking areas of the Gardens of El Paseo, an impressive collection of upscale shops and eateries, the festival grounds are compact, covered, and easy to navigate.
There are bountiful booths stocked with delectable bites from over 40 local and regional restaurants, as well as over 60 purveyors of beverages including wine, beer, spirits and numerous nonalcoholic libations to sample.
Some of the signature samples include the following.
WILDEST Restaurant’s Chef Trilby Tatro presents Tsar Nicoulai Caviar with Creme Fraiche on a petite potato.
Cork & Fork Restaurant presents Lemongrass Hoisin Meatballs with Scallions & Sesame.
Heirloom Craft Kitchen presents their Heirloom Tomato & Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese Dipper & Chive Oil.
The Venue Restaurant presents both a Tuna Roll-Shallots & Tobanjan Aioli and an Albacore Roll-Crunchy Garlic, Shiso & Shallots.
Hendrick’s Gin presents their cocktail called Cucumber Lemonade.
Besides this enticing array of edibles, Food Network followers come for the chefs. One of the main attractions is the celebrity talent who share their expertise with their devoted audiences during the many chef demos offered.
This year, Curtis Stone, Aarti Sequeira,Brooke Williamson, and Antonia Lofaso are just some of the Food Network stars showcasing their culinary mastery during the demos.
Some of the chef demo highlights include the following.Celebrity Chef, Television Personality and Author Aarti Sequeira, along with Date Farmer and Educator Mark Tadros demonstrated in front of an enthusiastic live audience a dish, which included dates as an ingredient in the Pork Kebabs with Date-Ghee Glaze and Lemon Labneh.
Celebrity Chef, Television Personality, Restaurateur, and Author Antonia Lofaso prepared a mouth-watering Spring Pea Ravioli, so fitting for the season.
While all of the festival participants “put their best taste forward,” WILDEST Restaurant +Bar may have been our festival favorite with their caviar dolloped on petite potatoes and garnished with crème fraiche. We were so impressed that we made it a point to dine at Wildest before heading home.
The warm greeting offered by owner Charissa, as well as the stylish, comfortable décor, active bar scene and live entertainment all set the stage for a memorable evening.
Needless to say, we began with their appetizer presentation of sustainably farmed Tsar Nicoulai Caviar elegantly served with all the traditional accompaniments and paired with Champagne Brut Imperial, Moët Chandon.
Each item on the menu features several wine pairing suggestions including a wine by the glass. There is literally something for everyone, as many items are designed to fit the dietary needs for vegan, vegetarian and gluten free.
Among the items we sampled were the Oyster Mushroom Fried ‘Chicken’, a Truffle Grilled Romaine Ceasar, English Pea and Black Truffle Ravioli, Seared Duck Breast and a Filet Mignon drizzled with a red wine reduction.
Each item was expertly prepared, presented and mouthwatering. The steak took the prize for luxurious flavor and texture. The suggested wine pairings with each dish were spot on and subtly enhanced every bite.
There is a reason why WILDEST Restaurant + Bar has a loyal following and is also on the short list for new visitors to the area, as it delivers a delectable dining experience making it wildly popular and worth a try.
This year’s festival is a wrap, but if we’ve whetted your appetite, plan ahead for next March, when Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival returns ready to welcome discriminating diners.
