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

I'M JUST CRAZY ABOUT BILLY REED'S

       I LOVE BILLY REED'S. SO THERE.

I'M THE KID WHO LOVES 21 CLUB, CHASEN'S, AND MUSSO & FRANK. TO KNOW THAT A CLASSIC, OLD-FASHIONED PLACE  exists in Palm Springs........unbelievable.

Any place where I can get Pancakes, Chicken Pot Pie, Beef Stroganoff, Boston Cream Pie, and Potatoes Au Gratin any time day or night???? I'm in. And, most importantly, the food is terrific.

The place also resembles the old restaurant in Hollywood called the Tick Tock, with its kitschy lamps and Victorian accents.

French Dip

Chicken Fried Steak

Chicken Pot pie

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? LOOK AT THESE CLASSICS. AND THE FOOD IS SO GOOD!

I now go once a week and sit in Maureen's section. She is so funny and we have an incredible time. Ask for her!


Billy Reed's opened 41 years ago, owned by Reed Garner and Robbie Lemley. In 1987 they decided to lease it out and retire. Fortunately for us, the lease expired in 2012, and they took it back. Reed is in the kitchen seven days a week baking all his grandmother's recipes.

Billy Reed's
1800 N. Palm Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs, Ca
92262
760-325-1946
billyreedspalmsprings.com

Prices are VERY reasonable

ACQUA OPENS AT THE RIVER

ACQUA OPENS AT THE RIVER IN RANCHO MIRAGE

CONGRATULATIONS TO BARBARA AND JERRY KELLER!!! THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN.

ACQUA OPENED TODAY AT THE RIVER AND IT SHOULD BE A SMASH

The River Room view

Look at this view. If you eat in the River Room, one of their FOUR dining areas, this is what you'll see. It's so beautiful.

Barbara and Jerry gave us Lulu's in Palm Springs, and they've redone their former Acqua Pazza and turned it into Acqua, a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm absolutely positive their presence will turn the River into a "must-go" again.

Acqua's menu is the same as Lulu's, so you know you're in for comfort and happiness.

Larry Luckinbill, Lucie Arnaz, Don Amendolia and I went for their "soft" opening.

Classic Wedge

Their Big Chips take two days to make

Fried Zucchini

Chicken Florentine

Fall off the bone gorgeous ribs

Don's Floating Island had patrons gasping

Tiramisu

Acqua has four different dining areas, as wells as two private rooms with moveable walls. The River Room features raised booths that are on wheels so they can go anywhere. There are also video monitors playing the wonderful art of Marvin Cohn, Barbara's 104-year-old father.

Here's a look around........

The bar

Open kitchen dining area in the center

Dining room at the entrance

Dining room past the bar

Moveable booths in The River Room

Outdoor sculpture that goes up to the sky

Go try Acqua. It will be your new home!




ACQUA
71-800 Hwy 111
Rancho Mirage, Ca
92270
760-862-9800
acquaranchomirage.com
Prices moderate

OFF DOING "FOOD RESEARCH" IN ITALY

GOING TO EAT MY WAY FROM FLORENCE TO THE TOWNS OF TUSCANY TO PORTOFINO........AND MORE.

YUMMMMMM.   YOU'LL HEAR ALL ABOUT IT, AND, MAYBE, WHERE YOU CAN FIND A GOOD VERSION OF IT IN OUR VALLEY!


BE BACK SOON......(SORT OF)

FERNANDA'S EL SALVADORIAN---OMG!

I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS FOOD THE OTHER DAY.

Fried Sweet Corn Tamales, Pork, Cheese, Bean Pupusa, Plantain with cream

THIS IS FROM FERNANDA'S IN A SHOPPING CENTER ON DATE PALM.
You see before you a plate of Fried Sweet Corn Tamales, a Pork, Cheese, and Bean Pupusa, a Fried, Caramelized Plantain, and Creamy Re-Fried Beans.

I cried at the first bite.

There is a delicacy to El Salvadorian food. The flavors are balanced and not overpowering. When you bite into the tamale, you are hit with a crisp, sweet crust that gives way to puffy, light, corn batter. And, the Plantain...........just melts into your mouth.

Look at this Plantain with cream!

A Pupusa looks like a Frisbee. It does not taste like one. You can get them plain or with cheese, beans, pork---or any combination thereof. They are not oily; not dry; they are perfect.

Fernanda opened this reataurant four years ago, and her chefs are Alex and Alicia. Alicia cooked this and came out to see how I liked it. I was dabbing my eyes at the time.......

Plate of Pupusas

The Cole Slaw has a bite, and is unlike any other you've tasted. You eat it with the Pupusa.

While the menu might sound ike you're at a Mexican restaurant and you see words like Machaca, Huevos Rancheros, Chilaquiles.....you're NOT at a Mexican restaurant. Everything has a different twist on it. For instance, the normal Chilaquiles might be fried eggs on top of scrambled tortilla chips, salsa and cheese. Well, NOT at Fernanda's. They fold their tortillas, fill them with cheese, and then dip the in egg batter and fry them. Whoa!

They don't have a website.
Prices are very inexpensive, and the place is immaculately clean, with great service.



34351 Date Palm Dr. Suite B
Cathedral City, Ca. 92234
760-328-2922

FRANCESCO'S CAFE--ITALIAN AND PERSIAN!!!!

WHO EVER HEARD OF ITALIAN AND PERSIAN FOOD.........
          IN THE SAME RESTAURANT?

I DIDN'T, BUT ONE VISIT TO FRANCESCO'S CAFE IN RANCHO MIRAGE AT DINAH SHORE AND BOB HOPE, HAD ME RETURNING AGAIN AND AGAIN.

Frequently, since I am a Food Freak, I will read the menu ahead of time (many times) and start fantasizing about what I'd like. With Francesco's you have to decided what "country" do you want to visit. Do you want Lamb Kabob with Saffron Rice, Grilled Tomato and maybe some Pita and Hummus? Or, do you feel like going to Italy and fill that craving for Fettucini Alfredo. Rome or Iran? What do you think?

Chicken Parm

Sometimes, if I can't make up my mind, I just go to the restaurant, sit in the booth, read the menu slowly, and see what overtakes me. Or, I have been known to think about the Persian Salad all day, arrive at the restaurant and physically NEED Eggplant Parmesan. That's the fun of it.

What's so incredible about this restaurant, is that they do both countries well. However, I would stay away form their pizzas. It's not that they aren't good, they are just unremarkable, and caaories an carbs are better spent elsewhere.

Shwarma Beef Plate

The service is excellent here, very friendly, and they'll answer any of your questions. If you want pasta, they have every kind of noodle imaginable with every kind of sauce---Pomodoro, Carbonara, Pink, Meatball sauce, Primavera, Pesto--you name it. They also have Lasagna to-die-for, as well as other stuffed, baked noodle dishes.

Chicken or Veal---you bet---any way you want it from Piccata to Parm. You can order a side of pasta with it, as well.

Let's not forget about ANY Italian seafood dish you could want, as well.

Falafal Plate

On the Persian side, it is salads and kabobs---swordfish, chicken, lamb, beef, shrimp, and also they have the various ground versions. My favorite is Beef Koobideh. Each plate comes with Basmati or Saffron Rice.

You can also have all the Persian side dishes you'd like---Hummus, Tahini, yogurt.....
And, if you order the Persian Salad (similar to Greek) they will put any Kabob or Koobideh on top. It's Killer. Oh, yes...there are the Falafels and Shwarmas.

I'm just in love with the place.

Chicken Entrees    $15.95
Veal Entrees          $18.95
Pastas                   $11.95-$13.50
Kebobs                  $14.19-$19.95


Francesco's Cafe
72047 Dinah Shore Rd.
Rancho Mirage 92270
760-202-4425
no website

DON AND SWEET SUE'S CAFE CATHEDRAL CITY

    IF OZZIE AND HARRIET OWNED A               RESTAURANT, THIS WOULD BE IT.

The counter in the first, more casual room that also has tables

I call this the "formal black-tie room."

Don and Sweet Sue's Cafe was actually started years ago by Don and Sue. They don't own it any more, but the current owners honor Don and Sue's homey, delicious meals and quaint decor. The servers and managers have been there for ages, and they are immediately your family.

If you want a life of Chicken 'n' Dumplings, Goulash, Stuffed Cabbage, Classic Turkey Dinner, or lunch items like the Perfect Patty Melt, a Tuna Salad Sandwich, or a Chinese Chicken Salad.....or maybe you want breakfast all day with choices of Chicken Fried Steak, Biscuits and Gravy, Vanilla-Scented waffles, Eggs Machaca, Benedict, or just an Omelette....Don and Sweet Sue's is your dream come true. 

I'm pretty sure my grandmother is in the kitchen making all the food.

Wanna know what makes a Perfect Patty Melt? Each ingredient must be at its simple, perfect best. It may look like cheese, onions, meat and rye bread to you, but it's the right American Cheese, the superbly Caramelized White Onions, and quality ground meat seasoned to perfection. The right amount of butter is on each side of the grilled top-of-the-line Rye Bread, and it is done to the right crispness.

And Eggs Machaca? Are you kidding me?

You really have to know what you're doing to make this right. The meat must be seasoned and cooked so it's easy to pull apart. The peppers and onions can't be over or undercooked. There has to be the right ratio of meat/eggs, otherwise it's off-balance. And their refried beans? Wow.

I'd like to bury my face in this Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs. Just look at that gravy and the crispness of the meat.

The classic Tuna Sandwich. Right Mayonnaise; right amount of Salt, pepper, and celery

The Beverly Hills Hotel adds vanilla to their batter. So does Don and Sweet Sue's. Yummmmm

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE. 
Go to their website and read their menus. You'll be crying with joy.

Breakfast items range from $5.95-$17.95
Lunch is $8.95-$13.95
Dinner is $15.95-$17.95

Don and Sweet Sue's Cafe
68955 Ramon Rd. #1 (at Date Palm)
Cathedral City 92234

donandsweetsues.com