AZUR
Signature Fine Dining at La Quinta Resort & Club

Chef de Cuisine William Withrow welcomes you to the elegant AZUR dining room.

Award-winning French-trained chef William Withrow’s formidable creativity continues to enliven AZUR’s California cuisine this year. New this season is a sushi bar tucked away in the lounge featuring creations by No • Da • Te, the renowned Japanese restaurant on El Paseo.

The sushi concept adds to AZUR’s allure of fresh ingredients prepared with French — and now Japanese — cooking techniques, a bold move that keeps the signature fine dining restaurant at La Quinta Resort & Club on the culinary edge.

AZUR’s menu embraces the West Coast’s complexity from the sea to inland farming and wine regions replete with fresh, organic and local produce. Withrow reinvents such delicacies as Lobster Newberg and balances it with Corn Risotto made with locally grown corn. He adds a touch of Japanese with his Furikake Crusted Black Cod with Shiitake Mushrooms, Tempura Rice Fritters in a Miso-Honey Glaze. AZUR’s extensive wine list, noted by Wine Spectator, offers vintages from around the world, with a bounty of French and California regional wines in the cellars.

Azur Sushi Bar By No • Da • Te features a variety of classic sushi selections along with new additions, including fresh rolled sushi inspired and named after some of the resort’s famous guests, such as the Garbo and Capra rolls. The Garbo features a combination of shrimp tempura, crabmeat topped with spicy tuna, avocado and sesame chili oil. Other creations include the Waldorf and the house special, the Azur roll, combining shrimp tempura, crabmeat and seared jalapeños.

The historic La Quinta Resort & Club celebrates more than 80 years of legendary hospitality and is part of The Waldorf-Astoria Collection™, managed by Hilton Hotels Corporation. AZUR’s rough beamed ceiling, original tile, mosaic, and crisp contemporary décor are casually elegant. Mediterranean images are cast from its blue shutters, cobalt tile, and vibrant bougainvillea against hand hewn white walls.

A friendly, knowledgeable service staff overseen by Maitre’d Karel Vidlak enhances AZUR’s unique ambiance. Keeping the lounge upbeat are jazz duo Brian Denigan on the saxophone and John Hardie on the piano with performances Wednesday through Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. AZUR is open during the season for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to Midnight. Reservations are strongly suggested. Sushi Bar and lounge hours are from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

SHOWN ABOVE: Two of the simple but very elegant specialties in Chef Withrow’s repertoire are an appetizer of Pan-Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras with roasted butternut squash, sweet corn, Ruby Port reduction, and fleur de sel; and an entrée of Roasted Irish Salmon with crab and jicama salad and duo of gazpacho and avocado relish. Photographed in the charming garden outside the restaurant..

“AZUR offers California cuisine with a touch of International flavor and a French twist.”

MENU HIGHLIGHTS

STARTERS

Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras.
Truffle Studded Maine Diver Scallops.
Pea Tendrils, Soy-Yuzu Butter.
Baby Frisée Salad.
“Duck à l’Orange.”
Duck Confit.

ENTRÉES

Furikake Crusted Black Cod.
Lobster Newburg Reinvented.
Prime Filet Mignon Croquettes, Madagascan Green Peppercorn Demi-Glacé.
Roast Korobuta Pork Chop.

SUSHI

Azur Roll
Capra Roll Garbo Roll
Waldrof Roll

DESSERTS

Chocolate Symphony.
Poached Seckel Pears and “Bleu d’ Auvergne” Mousse.
Petite Tart of Meyers Lemon.

BEST OF THE CELLAR

RED WINES

Silver Oak, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2000
Duckhorn, Napa Valley, Merlot, 2000
Patz & Hall “Alder Springs,” Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, 2004
E. Guigal, Châteauneuf de Pape, 2001

WHITE WINES

Rombauer, Carneros Chardonnay, 2005
Regis Minet, Pouilly Fumé, Vieilles Vignes, 2000
Joseph Drouhin, Puligny-Montrachet, Folatieres, 1er Cru, 2001

AZUR
49-499 EISENHOWER DRIVE
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA 92253
(800) 598-3828, (760) 564-7600

More Information - Websites, Maps and Directions

BY PAMELA BIERI
PHOTOGRAPHY: ARTHUR COLEMAN / ASSISTANT: TIM CARTER
FOOD STYLIST: ROLAND BIERI