AZUCAR IN PALM SPRINGS WILL BE A SECRET NO LONGER

       AZUCAR RESTAURANT AND LA SERENA VILLAS

AZUCAR IS LOCATED IN LA SERENA VILLAS,  A LUXURIOUS, TASTEFUL RETREAT ON BELARDO. I'M ALMOST SORRY TO WRITE ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO KEEP IT FOR MYSELF. THE INCREDIBLE FORMER OWNER AND CHEF OF DISH, JOANE GARCIA-COLSON, IS NOW THEIR CHEF, AND ALL THE FOOD IS TO DIE FOR. MENUS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

Chef Joane

All of this is the brain-child of owner Lars Viklund, who has owned Del Marcos for years and is now renovating that, as well at the former Callalily, now called Three Fifty. He was blown away by the run-down property of La Serena and decided to turn it into an exclusive jewel.

Lars Viklund

Azucar Restaurant

Looking at Azucar from the pool

Each casita has been done to the nines; most have private patios and Jacuzzis or water features. The gorgeous pool in the center of the property is so inviting, and Azucar, the restaurant is right there.

SECRET: The rooftop of Azucar has the coziest couches around, incredible views, and a magnificent fireplace to keep you warm when needed.

The Rooftop

Different accommodations----

The Three Fifty Hotel across the street has also been lovingly restored. It has that quaint, Palm Springs, 50s small-hotel-around-a-pool design, but brought up to a gorgeous 2018.

339 South Belardo Road
Palm Springs, CA 92262
844-932-8044
azucarpalmsprings.com

THE HABIT BURGER GRILL

I'M SO SORRY, BOYS AND GIRLS, FOR MY ABSENCE. I was finishing my new book, HOLLYWOOD SECRETS AND SCANDALS that will come out in March, plus I was dealing with holidays and flu.

But back to food.....

I love hamburgers, and in fact, did a blog  right here on the different type. Id heard The Habit was good, so off I went. I thought it was terrific. The restaurant is shiny and clean, with a good ordering and delivery system.

Look how immaculate the restaurant is

The burger is a cross between In and Out and Bob's Big Boy

This costs $8.35 with a drink included

Killer fries--crispy outside; fluffy inside; right amount of salt

If you're not in Palm Springs, and can't go to Tyler's, go to The Habit. They have several different kinds of burgers, plus cool salads and sandwiches.

Address: 73393 CA-111, Palm Desert, CA 92260

www.habitburger.com

Phone: (442) 282-5168

ALL AROUND THE TOWN--BITES AND PIECES

SOMETIMES I FIND THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO WRITE A LONG REVIEW OF A RESTAURANT, UNLESS IT'S FANTASTIC OR HORRIBLE.

HERE ARE A FEW OF MY RECENT STOPS:

849--It is a beautiful restaurant, but I have discovered through a few meals, that their execution frequently does not live up to the menu description. Case in point: Hot dog Sliders.....

All they did was take a cold, doughy bun and put a small, fat hot dog in it and serve it with cold cheese and a ketchup dressing. It was startlingly awful. In fact, I got sick when I went home. Don't you think a hot dog slider should be sliced and grilled hot dogs on a warm interesting bun (like cheese, for instance), and the cheese on top should be melted. It should also be served with a number of condiments. No one at the table ate their hot dogs.

On the plus side, I ate maple and oat coated fried bacon that was delicious, as well as fried pickles that looked like French Fries. I would return for those sides.

Broken Yolk--This is basically a transplanted Elmer's on Palm Canyon. The food is decent or better; the decor too dark and depressing; good service. I would absolutely eat here again.

It's a slightly-dated, cheery interior

Mexican crepes---VERY GOOD

My secret partner-in-crime 

You see how dark it is inside during the day. There is a very nice outside patio.

Kalura Trattoria--This is the restaurant in place of the old Pantry, next to the Plaza Theatre. It's really fun to sit outside here and watch the crowd go by on Palm Canyon. As I walked through the restaurant, I looked at the food on other tables and realized this place would be very below-average. I did spot some Capellini Checca on a table that actually looked good. I ordered it, and it was. Only come here for that. Their pizza dough was underdone and landed like a brick.

Good!

Rick's Desert Grill--I want to make it clear that I really like both of Rick's restaurants. I spend more time at Rick's, his breakfast and lunch place, but I also go to his other restaurant for dinner. The last time I went it may have been an off night. The Caesar Salad was bland and watery; the Cuban Pork Sandwich was dry; and the Arroz Con Pollo also was bland. My pork entree was absolutely delicious, and we started with their special Elote, which is Mexican Corn Fritters. They were to die for.

Elote

The Cuban Sandwich

I LOVE JOHNNY COSTA'S

I HAVE FOUND MY DREAM ITALIAN RESTAURANT....
                             JOHNNY COSTA'S



Over the past couple of years I have been trying different Italian places all over the valley. I love real New York Italian food. Don't give me three noodles with watery, canned red sauce. I also certainly do appreciate more nouvelle Italian food. Good is good. Some of the restaurants I've tried have been quite decent, but Johnny's is MINE. It's Patsy's in New York or Martoni's and the Villa Capri in LA (both defunct).

It's no coincidence Johnny Costa started as a sous-chef at the Villa Capri as a young man just over from Italy. He actually made the steak dish for Frank Sinatra that became Steak Sinatra. His tradition is carried on superbly by his family. Johnny Costa's opened in 1976, and now Vinnie Costa is the head chef.

If you are looking for truly delicious food, warm family greetings, and a new sleek, fresh atmosphere---go to Johnny's. They just redid their dining room, taking it from deep green booths to beiges and taupes. It's a pleasure to experience it.

I always order Spaghetti and Meatballs when I'm trying a new Italian restaurant. If they can't get that right, there's no point in going back. WOW! I LOVED theirs. It had the perfect ratio of sauce to noodle; the sauce was the right thickness and had the divine mixture of sweetness and bite. You could tell the sauce was cooked for hours.

Good Lord, this was SO FANTASTIC.

Another test is a Pounded Veal Chop. If it's a special, try to get it. The veal was of the highest quality and was pounded to the perfect thinness. The breading was not heavy or oily. It was crisp and seasoned beautifully. Put some fresh lemon on that and "go to town."

I'm now starving as I write this.   They also bake their own rolls and focaccia!

Their prices are appropriate for the quality of food you receive.
Steak Sinatra $30
Veal dishes-$29-30
Pastas-$17-26
Chicken dishes-$22



Johnny Costa's
johnnycostaspalmsprings.com
440 S. Palm Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs, Ca
92262
760-325-4556

WANG'S IN THE DESERT--TOTAL DISASTER

WANG'S---WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT

I have eaten at Wang's a few times over the past three years. It has always been very good. However, over the past several weeks I'd been hearing from friends that their food was inedible. I had to find out for myself.


I'm sorry to say that something terrible has happened. Their food has gone waaaayyyyyyy
down hill. I understand they have two different chefs, but I was told neither chef is new. A friend who went there a week before I did was told that ONE of the chef's was new. Well, whatever it is, it doesn't work.

Wang's purports to be an Asian restaurant, hence the possibility of ordering Chinese, Japanese, and Thai food.

The tempura below had a doughy, heavy, dead batter that dripped from oil. You could not eat it.

Here's their Pad Thai. It was completely tasteless and barely had any crushed peanuts, tofu, chicken, or bamboo shoots. It was dry, and covered with cilantro. You can't cover up an inferior dish with cilantro or anything else.

This is Honey Walnut Shrimp. We all know that it is supposed to be caramelized. It looked like it was flash fried, and most of the sauce was a liquid that looked like milk at the bottom of the bowl.

Only their braised beans were edible.

I didn't even bother to photograph their dreadful version of Crab Rangoon. It was cheap crab with hardly any cream cheese, and they tasted as if they had been frozen, fried, and then put under a heat lamp for 24 hours. I also don't trust that their Spring Rolls were fresh.

I don't need to tell you the prices because you aren't going there.

Dear Wang's---WAKE UP. Fire your chefs. Get a manager and owner who care.


wangsinthedesert.com
424 S. Indian Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs, Ca. 92262
760-325-9264

FRENCH CORNER CAFE----PARIS FOR US

IF YOU GO TO THE FRENCH CORNER CAFE AT DESERT CROSSING, YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE IN PARIS ANY TIME YOU WANT, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN THE DESERT.

Every time I head toward the French Corner Cafe, I smile inside and out. I know I'm going to be transported to Paris. I'm going to have delicious crepes, or perhaps a Salade Nicoise, or maybe an incredible Quiche. I'm also going to revel in meticulously-made desserts, where each one looks like a painting.

The French Corner Cafe is one of my favorite places in the desert.

The service is wonderful, and the ambience is delightful.

The texture of this Spinach and Mushroom Crepe is light and bouncy, and the sauce is to die for

Look at the sheer beauty of this Salade Nicoise with Fresh Ahi Tuna

Or......maybe this interests you---

Eggs Benedict Crepe

Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

Breakfast Crepe

AND THEN THE PARTY BEGINS........

Run......don't walk.

Salads: $14.95-$15.95
Crepes: $12-$14
Quiche: $12
Entrees: $19.95


French Corner Cafe
72423  Hwy 111
Palm Desert
92260
frenchcornercafe.com

TAQUERIA SAN MIGUEL--HEAVEN ON EARTH

TAQUERIA SAN MIGUEL IS THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD 
                              IN THE DESERT




I love mom 'n' pop restaurants. Particularly for Mexican food, I don't like mediocre, "Americanized" Mexican food like Las Casuelas Nuevas, for instance. Places like that are just your average "taco-enchilada" food trough. Taqueria is located in a dreary strip mall, and I don't care. Food is KING. I also love the very unique decor of their custom upholstery on each booth that looks like a campy painting on velvet.

At Taqueria San Miguel, members of the family actually drive up every two days to bring the homemade mole sauce from Mexico. This is an authentic, "gourmet" Mexican restaurant. I use the word "gourmet," not because there are black-tie waiters, but because all their food is prepared right there from the freshest ingredients, and the recipes are truly authentic. This is not "street food."

For example, when you order a combo plate of a Chicken Enchilada with Mole sauce and a Chile Relleno, it is the REAL sauce, and the Relleno is prepared properly over a fire and loaded with high-end cheese.

Chicken Enchilada Mole with Chile Relleno

There is another dish called Pollo a la Crema, which is almost like a chicken stroganoff. It is one of their best-selling dishes.

Pollo a la Crema

Here's Shrimp in Tequila Sauce. Wow! It's a killer.

You can see by these pictures just how special the food is.

Shrimp Cocktail

Fajitas to die for

The great news is that Monday-Thursday until 3 p.m. they have lunch specials including rice and beans for $6.95, as well as an incredible Happy Hour later.

The bar in the next room is just the coolest, and so are their drinks. I want to have a party in the bar one night and close it down.

And......their Sunday Breakfast....OMG!

The menu is pages and pages long, and my goal is to try everything. I have a good head start.







Hours are 8 a.m. -9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday
8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Prices range from $9-$16.

35320 Date Palm Drive
Cathedral City, Ca. 92234
760-328-9402
taqueriasanmiguel.com