Omnivores, vegetarians and vegans, rejoice: Dining out is now easier than ever with a growing number of Coachella Valley restaurants taking the organic and sustainably farmed trend seriously by crafting flavor-forward cuisines built around these concepts. We offer a selection of trend-setting and culturally diverse locations whose dishes will appeal to any palate.
Native Foods Café
In 1994, Tanya Petrovna opened the first Native Foods Café in Palm Springs and began educating the public on the virtues of vegetarian dining. Since then, Native Foods Café has become an acclaimed fast-casual vegan restaurant group. The eatery serves a number of delectable items, including its Super Italian Meatball Sub consisting of Native Sausage seitan meatballs in marinara sauce with caramelized onions, roasted sweet peppers, pumpkin seed pesto, ranch dressing and Native Parmesan on a grilled baguette.
Native Foods Café – Smoke Tree Village
1775 E Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-416-0070
www.nativefoods.com
Native Foods Café – El Paseo
73890 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-836-9396
Palm Greens Café
Palm Greens Café owners Greg Schmitz and Jeff Huyott infuse the cuisine and vegan options at their Palm Springs eatery with a shared passion for food that is tasty, creative, and pesticide and herbicide-free.
“Organic is more expensive, but worth it for two reasons,” says Schmitz. “It has a higher nutrient value, and — most importantly — when grown organic, petroleum-based pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers will not get into the water source.”
Sample the Southwest gazpacho with avocado and a fermented chili lime hash or the falafel and hummus wrap, served with mixed greens and choice of dipping sauce. Another favorite is the Suzanne Somers smoothie, which is a blend of spinach, kale, mint, banana, apple juice and spirulina.
Palm Greens Café
Desert Sun Center
611 S Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-864-9900
www.palmgreenscafe.com
India Oven
A sampling of India’s aromatic Punjab regional cuisine is only part of the adventure at India Oven in Cathedral City. Scents of curry, fragrant tandoori chicken, and many vegetarian choices waft from the kitchen.
India Oven serves a number of classics including chicken tikka masala, yellow daal, and Punjabi kadi — a regional specialty consisting of yogurt cooked with gram flour, fenugreek seeds and curry spices.
The petite, family-owned restaurant also offers a slice of India’s culture, including photos of temples, cities and people, as well as favorite Indian proverbs and sitar music.
India Oven
35875 Date Palm Drive, Cathedral City, CA 92234
760-770-3918
www.india-oven.com
Monsoon
Monsoon Indian Cuisine billows with delicious fragrance. Chef/owner Mohinder Sall serves up authentic creations originating from his native Punjab region in the North, as well as dishes from Southern and Central India.
There are nearly a dozen vegetarian dishes at Monsoon, including Navratan Korma — a combination of nine vegetables and fruit cooked in a light onion, cashew and almond sauce. In addition, tandoori chicken in ginger, garlic and yogurt with luscious spices or fish tikka marinated in an aromatic house sauce are delicious alternatives.
Monsoon
555 South Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-325-2700
The Tropicale Restaurant and Coral Seas Lounge
The Tropicale’s innovative world menu brings locally grown organic and sustainably raised produce and meats to the forefront of the Palm Springs dining experience. Flavors ranging from Morocco, Korea, Vietnam, Mandarin China, Cuba and Japan to fecund American regions like Maryland, Hawaii, and California’s coastal regions find their place here.
Chef and co-owner Tony Di Lembo is adamant about the use of fresh, organic and locally sourced products.
“All of our meats are grass-fed; poultry, free-range fish are sustainably line-caught, and our lettuces, tomatoes, berries, and produce are all organic,” Di Lembo says. “Even most of our wines are produced sustainably. This shift has come about because we are all eating this way ourselves. Prime grass-fed beef is healthier and just tastes better.”
The Tropicale Restaurant and Coral Seas Lounge
330 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-866-1952
www.thetropicale.com
BluEmber at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
BluEmber’s Executive Chef Billy Deaver is a proponent of fresh, sustainably raised foods. He has forge relationships with local farmers from whom he buys certified produce and meats.
“California is a melting pot of culinary styles,” Deaver says. “It’s a fusion of many countries — Mexico, traditional American, Japanese, Moroccan, French..”
One Thursday a month, a showcase of select growers features an array of vegetables, fruits, herbs and other items harvested or produced locally. Deaver will prepare a specialized menu using these products, complete with wine pairings for small parties at the Rancho Mirage location.
BluEmber
Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa
41000 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-568-2727
www.rancholaspalmas.com
The Café at Shields
The Café at Shields Date Garden in Indio emphasizes fresh, healthful food featuring both American and Mexican dishes, with some twists on old favorites.
Breads and salad dressings are made from scratch on the premises. Fresh dates are featured in several dishes such as Shields Signature Salad — spinach topped with Deglet Noor dates, dried cranberries, walnuts, pears, crumbled blue cheese and house-made mango vinaigrette.
Gluten-free, lactose-free and sugar-free alternatives are also available for guests with food sensitivities.
The Café at Shields Date Garden
80225 Hwy 111, Indio, CA 92201
760-347-0996
www.shieldsdategarden.com
Cheeky’s
One of downtown Palm Spring’s trendiest restaurants, Cheeky’s, serves seasonal, locally grown and — whenever possible — organic food in a weekly menu that reflects what is freshest in the markets. Cheeky’s philosophy is that “food shouldn’t come ready-made,” so all of their sauces, dressings and batters are made in-house.
For breakfast, enjoy the sumptuous brioche French toast Suzette with orange sauce and orange cream cheese or dive into the tofu scramble prepared with spinach, piquillo peppers, zucchini, and kale for a satisfying lunch.
Cheeky’s
622 North Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-327-7595
www.cheekysps.com
Nature’s Health Food & Café
For more than 20 years, Nature’s Health Food & Café has offered organic groceries, produce, supplements, holistic remedies, and a lively café featuring a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan soups, salads, and sandwiches.
A few of the favorites at the café are the garlic, ginger “unchicken” (made with soy) stir-fry; the taro root burgers stuffed with three cheeses; and the Italian “sausage” made from grains, vegetables, and spices.
Nature’s Health Food & Café
555 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-323-9487
www.natureshealthfoodcafe.com
Legacy Thai Cusine
Dishes with an emphasis on strong, aromatic components are the essence of Legacy Thai Cuisine in La Quinta. Thailand-born Chef/Owner Chai Butrlakorn balances spicy heat with sweet, sour, and salty tastes for an intriguing, authentic experience.
Classic dishes may be ordered vegetarian-style with tofu. Curry dishes come with jasmine or brown rice and range from mild to spicy. The Tom Yum broth is a standout, served with noodles, tomatoes, lemongrass, and lime leaves.
Legacy Thai Cusine
46520 Washington Street, La Quinta, CA 92253
760-771-1105