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Famed Detroit chef and Rattlesnake Club founder Jimmy Schmidt brings his legendary focus on great cooking to Morgan's In the Desert, at La Quinta Resort & Club. Canvassing the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas for fresh, locally grown ingredients to grill, roast, and braise, Schmidt's stylish new desert home promises to offer the finest in contemporary California cuisine.
Morgan's in the Desert
Open for dinner only
La Quinta Resort and Club
49499 Eisenhower Drive
La Quinta, CA 92253
760.564.5773
www.laquintaresort.com
Angus Short Ribs
Fine beef, a slow oven, and parmesan-roasted cauliflower. Mix well with a fine Pinot and enjoy!
Twisted S'Mores
Add caramel, chocolate, and marshmallow ice cream. A S'More like you've never seen before. If it wasn't for Morgan's Two Apple Bourbon Crisp - also to die for - the best dessert ever!
Foie Gras, Duck Breast
What could be better for a winter desert night? Deep, rich unctuous flavor! Caramelized two-apple salad. Yum...
Ahi Tuna Tartar
Dice the finest No.1 Tuna, take a high tech juicer, add the essence of tangerines, some maui onions, picholine olives and endive, toss in some Aleppo chilis...it's not seafood, it's sublime!
Angus Filet with Porcini
Meat and potatoes? How about the finest angus filet, grilled wild mushrooms, on a bed of Comte cheese potato gratin? C'est magnifique...
Celebrate Valentine's Day at Morgan's in the Desert!
Valentine Weekend Prix-Fixe Dinner, Friday, Feb. 12 - Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 from 5PM-10PM, $85 per person, $125 with wine pairings (tax and gratuity not included). On Fri. and Sat, Feb. 12-13, Morgan's customary a la carte menu will also be available. Patio seating available, weather permitting. The delicious menu includes Tiny Bites featuring J "Cuvee 20" Brut, NV, Ginger Crusted Diver Sea Scallops with Meyer Lemon Marmalade Risotto paired with 2007, J Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, Slow "Seduced" Free Range Breast of Duck, Chanterelle and Truffled Gnudi, Pinot Tears and Parmesan Froth, with J Brut Rose, NV, Dark Side Spice Tumbled CAB Beef Tenderloin, Air of Exotic Smoke of Cocoa Nibs, Mashed Aphrodisiac Roots paired with 2007 J Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, and Chocolate Fritter Pops with Silky Sauces and Crunch Sprinkles To Share coupled with Morgan's Organic Estate Guatemala Press Coffee and Cashew Dorians. What a way to share the love!
Outdoor lounge areas offer glass rock-filled fire pits for enjoying cool desert nights.
A Star is Born!
Nestled away in the gorgeous La Quinta Resort and Spa, Morgan's in the Desert is the Coachella Valley's newest gourmet "piece de resistance" headed by uber-chef Jimmy Schmidt, of the former Rattlesnake at the Classic.
The all a la carte menu is one of ever-changing, succulent roast meat and seafood fare. We tasted many delights, from appetizers like Pacific Oysters on the Half Shell with Apple Cider Mignonette Granita to Purple Haze Goat Cheese with Grilled Wild Mushroom Crostini. Entrees included tastes from Pan-Roasted Breast of Duck and Foie Gras Caramelized Two Apple Salad and Slow Braised Angus Short Rib with Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower. Our favorite was the Ahi Tuna Tartar with Tangerines, Maui Onions, Picholine Olives and Endive Salad. For dessert, the Twisted S'Mores made with Marshmallow Ice Cream is a true delight, and the Two Apple Bourbon Crisp with Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream kicks everything else "apple" to the curb.
Fireplaces and quiet nooks make for plenty of romantic dining opportunities at Morgan's in the Desert
Softly lit, with seamlessly blended indoor and outdoor dining areas, Morgan's is more than a restaurant -- it's a destination. You go for the entire experience. The rustic, softly lit mission-style 1930s architecture relaxes guests with beamed ceilings, soft furniture, and walls adorned with tapestries and mosaics, as the big tiled fireplace crackles with friendly flames. As live music wafts over from the bar and its choice of handcrafted cocktails using the ultimate in fresh ingredients, you realize you're in the midst of a stylish and luxurious nightime oasis!

Morgan's in the Desert sports a completely re-designed bar and lounge area, offering classic cocktails made with the freshest ingredients and a piano for pre and post-dinner entertainment.
So after dinner, sidle up to the bar for a nightcap and some live piano music, or snuggle up on the patio in front of the firepits. Morgan's in the Desert takes full advantage of its classic, desert surroundings to create a stylish, top quality escape from the bustle of the everyday world -- destined to become one of the best restaurants in the Coachella Valley.
The heart of Morgan's in the Desert - a great kitchen. Jimmy Schmidt's team, working hard to prep preview menu offerings.
A Little History...The La Quinta Resort & Spa is owned by a Morgan Stanley real estate investment fund ("Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds V"), along with the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui, PGA West, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, and Berkeley California's historic Claremont Hotel.
Built in 1926, La Quinta Resort is one of America's oldest and most legendary resorts -- providing its discerning clientele an opportunity to enjoy everything the Coachella Valley has to offer, including world-class golf, tennis, and during the Winter season, the HITS Thermal Desert Circuit, one of the world's largest USEF "AA"-rated horse shows, along with championship polo at the El Dorado and Empire Polo Clubs, the Western home of Polo in the United States.
A member of Hilton Hotels' exclusive Waldorf-Astoria Collection, which includes the Waldorf-Astoria hotel itself in New York, the historic Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, Florida, the famous Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the soon to be reopened Waldorf Astoria-Beverly Hills, formerly Merv Griffin's Beverly Hilton, long-time home to the globally televised television Emmy and Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Golden Globe Awards. Featuring a classic desert landscape, endless swimming pools, great cuisine, legendary desert hospitality, and access to some of the best golf and tennis in the Nation, the La Quinta Resort & Club is a long time favorite of the Hollywood elite, top international athletes, and conferencing business executives from around the world.
A great venue, and a tough audience, but we're confident Jimmy Schmidt's new flagship restaurant at the La Quinta Resort will be up to the task. Enjoy!