Farmers’ Markets Going Into Summer Mode; Chad Gardner Matches CalFresh Benefits
The Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market will be transitioning into its usual indoor summer home at the Palm Springs Pavilion (401 S. Pavilion Way, Palm Springs) on June 11 … because the fresh eggs on sale would cook in their shells if left outside in our summer heat. The market takes a week off to rest, which means the final outdoor market of the season will be on May 28.
The Indian Wells Farmers’ Market will move inside the old Ralph’s at 74895 Highway 111 after the May 26 market. Warning: Although there will be swamp coolers and fans, the building does not have air conditioning, so go early!
The La Quinta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Indio markets all close for the summer after their last markets in May, and are slated to return in October.
In other farmers’ market news, local restauranteur Chad Gardner (of Roly China Fusion, 533 Viet Fusion, 1501 Uptown Gastropub, Willie’s Modern Fare and others) is generously helping CalFresh dollars go further. His donation to the Palm Springs Cultural Center—the parent organization of the La Quinta, Palm Desert and Palm Springs markets—will enable them to continue to match up to $15 of customers’ CalFresh benefits. Since the beginning of the pandemic, CalFresh enrollment has grown exponentially—and Gardner’s donation will allow the markets to keep their market match going through the end of the year.
In Brief
The first of celebrity chef Fabio Viviani’s restaurants at the Morongo Casino Resort Spa is open. Pescato, an oyster bar and fish house, started serving diners April 2; the rest of his Marketplace food hall should open soon. Learn more at www.morongocasinoresort.com. … The Coachella Valley’s first cat café will be opening at 4781 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite F, in June. Frisky Business will offer a unique Coachella Valley Coffee Company blend along with merchandise; they’ll also help facilitate cat adoptions via the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Get a latte, and play with a pussy! Learn more at friskybusinesscatcafe.com. … The former See’s Candy space at 144 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, will soon be home to Acai Oasis. Acai is the fruit of a South American palm that’s purported to be a superfood which promotes health and increases energy. Watch the blank-as-of-this-writing Instagram account @acaioasisusa for updates. … Trio, at 707 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, has announced that Phillip Martin has taken over the kitchen as the new chef/partner—and he’s shaking up the menu. Chef Martin promises new ideas while sticking to Trio’s roots and emphasizing farm-to-table sourcing. He’s already launched a new brunch menu with offerings like smoked salmon toast and chorizo chilaquiles. Martin has had stints at Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, as well as LACMA and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, so it will be exciting to see where this new chapter leads Trio; triopalmsprings.com. … New to Cathedral City: Mr. Claws Seafood Boil has opened at 67555 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite F120. They’ll boil you up a bag of crawfish, shrimp, clams, mussels, snow crab legs and colossal king crab legs, with spices, corn, potatoes and sausage. More info at www.instagram.com/mrclaws.seafood. … New to 74225 Highway 111, in Palm Desert: J’s Deli, a Jewish-American deli with a vast menu that includes kosher-style smoked meats and fish. The restauranteurs are honoring their family’s Eastern European roots while highlighting current trends; learn more at www.j-sdeli.com. … Dave’s Hot Chicken, which opened its first valley location in Indio last year, will soon be opening its second, at 72363 Highway 111, in Palm Desert. Dave’s began as a parking-lot pop-up in L.A. and specializes in hot chicken tenders and sliders, with seven spice levels, ranging from “No Spice” to “Reaper.” The chain has more or less doubled its number of locations in a year; visit www.daveshotchicken.com. … The chef behind the much-loved Justin Eat and Drink—a restaurant that closed to make way for the Agua Caliente Cathedral City—has opened Beautiful Day at 50949 Washington St., Suite A, in La Quinta. Like Justin, Beautiful Day is a farm-to-table restaurant, and it’s currently open for breakfast and lunch Thursday through Monday; www.itsabeautifulday.love. … In chain news, a new Dairy Queen has opened at 81977 Indio Blvd.; www.dairyqueen.com. … Spotlight 29, at 46200 Harrison Place in Coachella, has opened two new restaurants. Kupi Shop is named after the word for “coffee” among the Chemehuevi people. The shop offers hot and cold brewed espresso drinks using Joshua Tree Coffee, plus breakfast and deli sandwiches, salads and an array of on-premise-baked goods; it’s open 24-7. Malie Asian Kitchen is a fast-casual restaurant featuring pan-Asian cuisine. Offerings currently include poke and ramen; there are plans to later expand the menu to include other noodle dishes and dumplings. Malie is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; spotlight29.com/dining.
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Thank you very much for the mention Charles! This is Claire of Frisky Business Palm Springs Cat Cafe. It was a lovely surprise being sent your article from a friend of mine. I very much appreciate the mention. xx