Tag: Palm Desert

  • Exquisite Desserts

    Exquisite Desserts

    77682 COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE
    PALM DESERT

    Established 24 years ago by amiable pastry chef Samatha Ward, Exquisite Desserts has grown to become one of the area’s most beloved bakeries, with its fare served at such exclusive spots as The Pink Cabana, Copley’s, On the Mark, and more than 20 area country clubs. Open to the public daily, the charming pâtisserie features a dazzling array of freshly baked goods, including flourless chocolate cakes, French macaroons, bars, brownies and cookies. The bakery is best known, though, for its stellar array of custom cake and specialty dessert items, which include gluten-free and vegan varieties. As such, their calendar books up far in advance, so plan accordingly.

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  • Perfect Pint

    Perfect Pint

    73545 EL PASEO
    PALM DESERT

    This adorable establishment serves up gourmet hand-crafted frozen custard in a wide range of flavors out of a gleaming airstream. While on the pricier side, owners Gabby Nagengast and Jordan Panaiotov (who started the creamery in 2021 after losing their restaurant jobs due to the pandemic) utilize only the highest quality ingredients, including Tahitian vanilla beans, Belgian chocolate and the Valley’s own Brandini Toffee. The result is one of the richest, tastiest desserts you’ll ever sample! A second location can also be found at Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon.

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  • Il Sogno

    Il Sogno

    73375 EL PASEO
    PALM DESERT

    This authentic European bakery, which also made my breakfast list above, is worth a visit just for a peek at the wide selection of baked goods alone! Homemade on the premises each day, the front counter is stacked with decadent treats ranging from pastries to muffins to cookies to tarts, each seemingly more exquisite than the last. Il Sogno also offers several gluten-free options and fabulously strong lattes for a nice morning boost.

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  • Castelli’s Cannolis

    Castelli’s Cannolis

    73098 CA-111
    PALM DESERT

    In the wise words of Peter Clemenza in “The Godfather,” if you’re at Palm Desert landmark Castelli’s, you should definitely “Take the cannoli!” This place became a staple for my family’s cannoli cravings pretty much the day we moved to the Valley. Over a decade later, we still find ourselves picking up to-go orders to serve for dessert at dinner parties or for at-home weeknight treats. The dish is light, creamy and deep-fried to perfection!

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  • Handel’s Ice Cream

    Handel’s Ice Cream

    44489 TOWNE CENTER WAY, SUITE F
    PALM DESERT

    Rich, thick and oh-so-velvety, Handel’s ice cream offerings are hand-crafted daily on the premises – and it shows! Featuring a smorgasbord of flavors, including Buckeye, Oree Do (an Oreo cookie dough concoction that is mouth-wateringly delicious!), and (the most popular) Strawberry Cheesecake Chunk, plus some vegan options, there is something for everyone at Handel’s. The prices are amazingly affordable, to boot! Bonus – the creamery boasts another location in Indio for those who catch a craving on the other side of town.

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  • Hotel Paseo

    Hotel Paseo

    45-400 LARKSPUR LANE
    PALM DESERT

    A newer and thoroughly welcome addition to the desert scene, Hotel Paseo is situated in one of the best locations in the area, just steps from the tony El Paseo shopping district. But there is plenty more to be had! Featuring thoroughly modern and whimsical décor, the property is hip and trendy in all the right ways, with amenities including the stellar onsite eatery Larkspur Grill (which also made my dinner list), a fitness center, a putting green, a café, a pool, daily outdoor yoga, and comfortable rooms.

    ★★★

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  • Jw Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

    Jw Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

    74-855 COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE
    PALM DESERT

    Surrounded by huge lakes, which guests can tour via manned gondolas, the JW Marriott provides a resort experience like no other. Boasting an incredible 450 acres, the lodging is unbelievably massive, with 884 rooms, seven restaurants, two golf courses, three pools, a Starbucks, a putting green and a myriad of shops. It’s like Disneyland in the desert! Even if you don’t book a stay, the hotel is a must-see for its grand scale and overall spectacle alone – especially during the holidays. Each Christmas, the property truly comes alive with a smorgasbord of activities for children such as story time with Santa, cookie decorating and games galore. Bonus – the hotel is also a filming location! It was here that Jesse Spano’s dad got married on “Saved by the Bell.”

    ★★★★

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  • Ristorante Mamma Gina

    Ristorante Mamma Gina

    73705 EL PASEO
    PALM DESERT

    Craving a $24 filet? Mamma Gina has you covered! Another Piero Pierattoni hot spot, this El Paseo eatery has been a beloved desert staple since originally opening in 1986. Other delectables on the all-night happy hour menu (offered from 4 p.m. to closing) include Salmone and Carpaccio Di Bue (at $16 and $18, respectively), with each dish more exquisite than the last. As such, it is no surprise that this place is hard to get into, but the long waits are well worth it!

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  • Piero’s Pizzavino

    Piero’s Pizzavino

    73722 EL PASEO #1
    PALM DESERT

    This casual spot, opened by Florence-born restauranteur Piero Pierattoni in 2011, is best known for its fab Neapolitan pizzas, but the happy hours also can’t be beat! Offering authentic Italian dishes based on Piero’s family recipes, the happy hour offerings are extensive – from pasta to pizza to appetizers, with gluten-free options, to boot! The Fried Zucchini Blossoms and Grilled Artichokes are personal favorites (and affordable at $12 each), but you can’t go wrong with any menu choice. (Happy Hour is offered all day Sunday through Thursday and from 11:30 to 4 on Fridays and Saturdays.)

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  • Castelli’s Ristorante

    Castelli’s Ristorante

    73098 CA-111
    PALM DESERT

    Retro in all the right ways, Castelli’s is a desert landmark – and one of my family’s longtime favorites. Established by brothers John and Michael Castelli in 1988, using their family’s Old World Italian recipes, the place quickly became a celebrity hotspot (as the many headshots lining the walls attest), welcoming the likes of Martin Short, Bob Hope, Robert Wagner, Andy Garcia, and Sylvester Stallone, just to name a few. Still going strong today, the restaurant is packed to the gills most nights, best loved for its stellar fare and warm ambiance.

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