Certified Farmers’ Markets Add Micro-Business Food Vendors
The Certified Farmers’ Markets in La Quinta, Palm Desert and Palm Springs have added more hot-food vendors to the array of purveyors doing business each week.
Many of these food vendors are micro-business food companies—most of which got their start during the pandemic—operating out of approved kitchens, although they do not have brick-and-mortar storefronts. For some of them, the markets represent the only venue, outside of catering and perhaps social media, where they sell their food. Some people may remember that Townie Bagels got a similar start before opening a brick-and-mortar shop on Sunny Dunes Road in Palm Springs.
Offerings will include tamales by Arriola’s Tortilleria (available in Palm Desert and La Quinta), barbecue ribs by Papa’s BBQ (Palm Springs), ceviche by Camacho’s Exquisite Catering (Palm Springs), breakfast burritos by Croux and Company (Palm Springs and Palm Desert), Vietnamese dumplings by Straight and Marrow (Palm Desert), pizzas by Popping Off Pies (Palm Springs) and biscuit sandwiches by Biscuit and Counter (Palm Springs). Please note: Not all vendors are present each week, and schedules change.
Megan Goehring, the manager of all three markets, tells me she has plans to expand the offerings even more very soon. Learn more at www.certifiedfarmersmarkets.org.
In Brief
The Miramonte Resort and Spa, at 45000 Indian Wells Lane, in Indian Wells, has launched two new culinary concepts. Citrus and Palm highlights contemporary Mediterranean fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while The Tavern offers shareable dishes inspired by American favorites for happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. before transitioning into dinner. Peruse menus and learn more at www.miramonteresort.com. … Southern California mini-chain Porta Via—with locations in Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades and Calabasas—is opening location No. 4 in Palm Desert, at 73100 El Paseo, Suites 1 and 2. An opening date has not yet been announced, but the menus at the other locations include contemporary cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week; find more info at portaviarestaurants.com. … The Desert Cancer Foundation has announced that its annual Corks and Cuisine Wine Dinner and Auction will return to the Ironwood Country Club, at 73735 Irontree Drive, in Palm Desert, on Saturday, Nov. 20. The outdoor event will feature sips from wineries in Temecula, Paso Robles, Sonoma and beyond. Tickets are $295; go to corkscuisine.desertcancerfoundation.org, or call 760-773-6554. … Chad Gardner and Willie Rhine—the restaurateurs behind 1501 Uptown Gastropub (both), Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge (Rhine), Roly China Fusion (Gardner) and 533 Viet Fusion (Gardner)—have acquired the restaurant formally known as Bernie’s, located at 69830 Highway 111, in Rancho Mirage. In January 2022, the duo will reopen the restaurant as a “modern European” spot dubbed Willie’s. Based on their previous successes, Gardner and Rhine are likely to make this one an excellent addition to the valley. … Back from the dead: Wang’s in the Desert, at 424 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, announced on social media it was “rising from the ashes” and reopening on Thursday, Nov. 4—just in time for Greater Palm Springs Pride. The restaurant had been closed since March 2020, when COVID arrived. The Facebook page promises a new menu featuring some old favorites; watch www.facebook.com/wangsinthedesert for more. … 4 Saints at the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs (100 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs) has announced a special Dinner Under the Stars event to celebrate its fourth anniversary. On Wednesday, Nov. 17, a $70, four-course al fresco experience will take place on the rooftop, featuring a prix fixe menu by executive chef Ysaac Ramirez. To make reservations, call 760-392-2020; learn more about the restaurant at www.4saintspalmsprings.com. … Remy Wines, an Oregon-based, LGBTQ+-owned winery with deep ties to the Coachella Valley, will hold a special pop-up tasting at Seaplane Shirts (1009 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs) from 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27. In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that owner and winemaker Remy Drabkin is my sister. She produces complex Italian varietals grown in the Pacific Northwest, including lagrein, dolcetto, sangiovese, and barbera. Learn more at remywines.com. … Engin Onural—owner of The Venue Sushi Bar and Sake Lounge in Palm Desert, and Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey in Palm Springs—has opened a new craft-cocktail space just around the corner from Sandfish. Tailor Shop, at 140 W. Via Lola, in Palm Springs, is creating quite a buzz; sign up for updates at www.tailorshopps.com. … Sadly, Massimo and Annie Orru, of Venezia Italian Restaurant, at 2500 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, have decided to sell the restaurant. Massimo tells me the new owner was also born and raised in Italy and will be reopening the restaurant in about a month under a new name. Hopefully the new owner makes the same great pizza!
Got a hot tip? Let me know: foodnews@cvindependent.com.
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