While the coronavirus pandemic has deprived us of the sit-down dining experience that makes Greater Palm Springs such a unique culinary adventure, takeout has gained a greater measure of respect.
Viewed more for its convenience, takeout has allowed customers to order and enjoy at home the excellence of their favorite Coachella Valley restaurants especially during the corornavirus pandemic. That’s why Palm Springs Life has partnered with KESQ-TV (News Channel 3) to celebrate Restaurant Takeout Month, which ends May 31.
Visit palmspringslife.com/takeoutmonth and you can look at more than 100 takeout menus from restaurants all over the valley. The menus vary from traditional comfort food to sushi to vegetarian.
It’s natural to be skeptical and wonder whether the takeout menu will contain the favorites that had led to your loyal patronage in many cases over several years. When my partner and I decided to order takeout from Wally’s Desert Turtle in Rancho Mirage, we found that they not only had the dishes we had enjoyed when we had last been inside the restaurant, they offered a complete menu from appetizers to desserts.
When we brought our takeout order back home, we could tell from the care of the packaging used to protect each of the dishes that the food had been freshly prepared and had not simply been sitting all day. In addition, the portions were well beyond what we had expected. We wound up with enough food to enjoy it on a second day. OK, except for the dessert. The lemon meringue tarts disappeared on the first night.
The point is, our opinion of the restaurant remains the same. The quality food that brings us to Wally’s can be found inside the restaurant and as a home-dining experience.
The table is set to enjoy the dine-at-home experience with our takeout from Wally's Desert Turtle.
Look for yourself. Chances are you will find a favorite dish on a majority of the takeout menus on the website. Like the chicken pot pie at Daily Grille in Palm Desert, the signature meatloaf at Lulu California Bistro in Palm Springs, and a combination platter at Pueblo Viejo in Indio.
While takeout has allowed valley restaurants to gain some measure of revenue, many of their staff remain unemployed. On the website, click on the Donate tab and you’ll see an opportunity to give whatever you can with the funds tased to be shared equally among staff tag all participating restaurants.
During this Memorial Day weekend, give yourself a break from cooking and support the Greater Palm Springs restaurant community with a takeout order.
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