FAMED CHEF JIMMY SCHMIDT PARTNERS WITH
LA QUINTA RESORT & CLUB
TO OPEN MORGAN’S IN THE DESERT
New Restaurant Slated to Open with Preview Menu December 2009
Spearheaded by celebrated Chef and Restaurateur Jimmy Schmidt and evoking the glamour, history and architecture of the original 1926 venue, Morgan’s in the Desert – a new restaurant and bar at the legendary La Quinta Resort & Club – is slated to open with a preview menu December 2009.
“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Jimmy Schmidt, and are confident his talents and vision will help establish Morgan’s in the Desert as one of the region’s top dining destinations,” said La Quinta’s Managing Director Ralph Vick. A formal opening is slated for January 26, 2010, to coincide with The Resort's 84th anniversary.
A pioneer in America’s culinary movement towards sustainable cooking and “farm to table” dining, Chef Schmidt is drawing inspiration from the bounty of the Coachella Valley and its environs to create the Contemporary American Cuisine at Morgan’s. He will source the best local products grown and raised responsibly, and focus on traditional cooking methods – such as open grilling, slow-roasting, braising, pickling and curing – to offer deliciously simple, rustic and healthful dishes.
Open for dinner only, Morgan’s reasonably priced menu will feature à la carte selections that will be ever-changing throughout the seasons and highlighted by savory wood-grilled and roasted meat and seafood specialties, such as Pan Crisped Pacific Sand Dab Stack, Porcini Tumbled Angus Filet Atop Comte Gratin with Wild Mushroom Salsa and Slow Roasted Breast of Duck with Two Apple Tarte Tatin. There will also be a diverse choice of Cool and Warmed Starters, Sides, a California Artisanal Cheese Plate and Bar Starter Menu.
A New Chapter For Esteemed Chef Jimmy
A native Midwesterner, Schmidt garnered national acclaim when he created the Rattlesnake Club in Detroit, which celebrates more than 20 years as an award-winning dining destination. He was most recently the chef/owner of the highly touted Rattlesnake at the Classic Club in Palm Desert.
He has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his 30-year career, including the prestigious James Beard Award for “Best Chef Midwest,” Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence,” and Gourmet Magazine’s “America’s Top Tables” and “America’s Best Restaurants.” He is also the founder of Chefs Collaborative, the nation’s leading nonprofit chefs organization devoted to fostering a sustainable food system, and was a founding board member of Share Our Strength®, the national organization working hard to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry.
In addition, Schmidt has authored and co-authored several cookbooks, including Cooking for All Seasons, Jimmy Schmidt’s Cooking Class and Heart Healthy Cooking for All Seasons, which he wrote with Alice Waters and Larry Forgione. Schmidt also wrote a weekly cooking column for Detroit News/Gannett Wire Services that appeared in 200 newspapers across the country.
Seductive Spaces Inside and Outside Invite Guests To Enjoy A Total Dining Experience
Aptly named after La Quinta Resort founder Walter Morgan, Morgan’s in the Desert is meticulously designed to wow and professionally serve modern diners, while incorporating strong focal tributes to the original 1926 La Quinta restaurant. The 82-seat dining room is warm and relaxing, yet captures a subtle feel for the glamour and romance of another era. Guests visually connect with the nearby stunning desert panoramas, and are treated to the allure and drama of a graceful arched entryway, an oversized fireplace, decorative mirrors, an historic mural, intimate alcoves and booths, and rustic wood-beamed ceilings.
The signature U-shaped bar that seats 26 people will focus on hand-crafted cocktails created with fresh ingredients selected by the bar chef. The lounge has an additional 22 seats and is the hub for live entertainment and a seductive, round piano bar. In addition, there is a private dining room that seats 38, and the 32-seat patio is available for romantic al fresco dining.
About La Quinta Resort & Club
La Quinta Resort & Club, a member of The WaldorfAstoria Collection, is a legendary resort destination that has reigned over the picturesque Palm Springs area in the city of La Quinta with grace and charm since 1926. This Hollywood hideaway is located in a spectacular setting among citrus groves at the base of the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains. There are 796 elegantly appointed casitas, suites and villas, and the resort’s 66,000 square feet of function space makes it ideal for meetings, weddings and other special occasions. Guests enjoy the resort’s five championship golf courses including three PGA WEST® courses; 23 tennis courts; the 23,000-square-foot Spa La Quinta®, 41 pools and 53 hot spas; exceptional cuisine at TWENTY6 and Adobe Grill; and shopping and dining at
The Plaza. La Quinta Resort & Club is located at 49-499 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta, CA 92253.
For further information and reservations, please call (760) 564-4111, or toll-free,
1-800-598-3828; or visit www.laquintaresort.com.
