Everyone has a favorite neighborhood café—the kind you can count on for a great cup of coffee, a satisfying meal or a festive brunch with friends. Finding one that balances indulgent treats with healthy options, however, can be a challenge. In Indian Wells, that place is the Blushing Peony Wine Bar & Café. This colorful,… Read more »
Fresh Cuisine
Care for Your Winter Garden
- By Natalie Meyerhoff, MEd
- January/February 2026
Winter in the Coachella Valley is the quiet hero of the gardening year—cooler days, softer sunlight, and the perfect conditions for crisp lettuces, hearty roots, and vibrant herbs. With a little consistency and a simple rhythm, your winter garden can feed you generously all season long. Below is a user-friendly guide—practical, calm and easy to… Read more »
Blue Zones Palm Springs Approves First Restaurant
- By Lauren Del Sarto
- January/February 2026
When I heard that the first local Blue Zones-approved restaurant was a bakery, I was appalled. We know that baked goods, bread and sugar are primary causes of today’s chronic disease epidemic, so it didn’t make sense. Then, I met Bread and Flours. The beloved Palm Springs café is all about healthier ingredients and a… Read more »
Creating a Desert Vegetable Garden
- By Natalie Meyerhoff, MEd
- November/December 2025
What is the basis for good health and wellness? According to the latest longevity research, it’s what you put in your body every day.1 Growing your own food at home empowers you to consume the freshest, most nutrient-dense produce, provides a buffer for disruptions like pandemics and disasters, and allows you to reclaim control over… Read more »
Soy Ceviche
- By El Tranvia’s Oscar Ventura
- September/October 2025
Coachella is embracing the Blue Zones Project with healthier options being served up throughout the community. We are delighted to feature this Blue Zones-inspired recipe from El Tranvia restaurant owner Oscar Ventura, who continues his family legacy launched in 1969 as a food truck (El Tranvia translates to “the streetcar”). A Palm Springs Life Best… Read more »
This salad dressing is as nourishing as it is flavorful! Creamy avocado provides heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and fiber to keep you feeling satisfied, while fresh lemon juice and vinegar offer a tangy dose of antioxidants that support digestion. Garlic brings powerful anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, and dill adds a refreshing herbal twist packed with micronutrients… Read more »
Come Home to Tía Carmen
- A Review by Lauren Del Sarto
- May/June 2025
I constantly seek restaurants which serve food that fuels you. It starts with fresh, conscious ingredients and is perfected when prepared with purpose and passion. It is not often you find this combination in a gourmet setting served by a seasoned staff and complemented by an international wine list, but Tía Carmen at the Grand… Read more »
Eating a Rainbow of Healthy Food
- By Edith Jones-Poland, MD
- March/April 2025
When we see a plate of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables, we know we are about to eat something good for our bodies. In fact, a food’s color is one of the most important sensory cues informing us of its freshness and our expectations of how it will taste. Eating a diet full of… Read more »
6 Reasons to Grow Your Own Food
- By Natalie Meyerhoff, MEd
- January/February 2025
Have you always dreamt of growing your own food? While growing your own vegetables, herbs and fruit can be a rich and fulfilling hobby, it also offers numerous benefits backed by science and research. Here are the top six reasons why you should consider growing your own food: Improved nutrition and food quality. Homegrown produce… Read more »
Healthier Holiday Pie
- Recipe by Barbara Rogers
- November/December 2024
What are the holidays without a sweet scrumptious pie? For a healthier option to traditional favorites, try this grain-free, no-sugar-added, very berry pie from Barbara Rogers’s It’s a No Grainer (have you bought the cookbook yet?). We recommend topping with SO Delicious dairy-free, no-sugar-added vanilla bean ice cream. Double YUM! Crust Ingredients: Filling Ingredients: Directions:
Power Pumpkin Smoothie
- By Barbara Hankey-Rogers
- September/October 2024
Pumpkin-everything season is here! Skip the sugary syrups and satisfy that cool fall craving with this healthier option from Rogers’s It’s A No Grainer. Featuring hemp seeds, a powerful super food packed with proteins, essential fats, vitamins and enzymes, combined with seasonal spices and a touch of honey, this dairy-free smoothie will start your day… Read more »
Relax and Enjoy ~ It’s Grapefruit Basil
- A Review by Lauren Del Sarto
- July/August 2024
Tommy Bahama® is synonymous with the good life. The global brand has millions of aficionados who relish their island-style clothing, classic cocktail accoutrements, effortless home living, and colorful carry-with-you beach chairs. The Tommy Bahama lifestyle beckons you to slow down, savor the moment and relax. Of all the lavish vacation communities in the world, it… Read more »
DSRT Club Delights with Classic Flare and Clean Cuisine
- A Desert Health Review
- May/June 2024
“Imagine a gorgeous, nature-favored spot where fun and outdoor sports never end.” This enticing verbiage illustrated the newly developed Desert Club in 1937, “the social hub and playground for La Quinta property owners and guests.” Beyond badminton, ping pong, croquet and horseback riding, the famed resort also boasted a “smart intimate cocktail bar and gracious,… Read more »
Why Are Goji Berries Considered an Anti-aging Superfood?
- By Diane Sheppard, PhD, LAc
- March/April 2024
The goji berry is a fruit seed, similar to raisins, and is one of the only Chinese herbs in pharmacopeia that can be eaten raw off the vine, other than dates. This tasty little red gem is a famous Taoist snack commonly combined with nuts in trail mix and consumed while trekking through the woods… Read more »
A Love Letter to Chickpeas
- By Katie Davis
- March/April 2024
What superfood is considered both a vegetable and a protein, and is probably sitting in the back of your pantry right now? It’s the beloved chickpea, which in my opinion could use a little more notoriety. Superfood, by definition, is when a food offers high levels of desirable nutrients that are also linked to the… Read more »
Nostalgic and Nutritious
- By Lauren Del Sarto
- January/February 2024
Wally’s Desert Turtle is one of our valley’s most revered establishments. Built in 1978 as Wally Botello’s lifetime legacy, the elegant restaurant has served many desert legends including Frank Sinatra, Bob and Dolores Hope and President Gerald and Mrs. Betty Ford, to name a few. A trip to Wally’s is always a special treat, but… Read more »
King Oyster Mushroom Scallops
- Recipe compliments of Wildest Restaurant’s Chef Trilby
- November/December 2023
This vegan delicacy, made with mushrooms disguised as scallops, will surprise and delight! It is easy to make at home or visit Wildest Restaurant + Bar where Chef Trilby will gladly prepare her gourmet version for you. Ingredients 1/2 pound king oyster mushroom cut into scallop shaped rings and caps. Specialty mushrooms are available from… Read more »
Explore Your Wildest Side
- A Review by Lauren Del Sarto
- September/October 2023
Casual elegance and an array of gourmet vegan and gluten-free offerings are why we love Wildest Restaurant + Bar. Whether you’re looking for cocktails and appetizers or a four-course dinner with friends, you’ll find both guilty and good-for-you options at this popular Palm Desert destination. Wildest is the innovation of health advocate and wine aficionado… Read more »
Cauliflower Cheese Bread
- By Barbara Hankey-Rogers
- July/August 2023
From one of our favorite books, It’s A No Grainer (Jan/Feb 2023), this grain-free, low-carb bread is a tasty and satisfying alternative. Great as an appetizer to dip in marinara or as a simple side dish. Makes 10-12 servings. Ingredients: Preheat oven to 375ºF. Rinse cauliflower, remove outer leaves and separate into florets with a… Read more »
Made with Love
- A Review by Lauren Del Sarto
- May/June 2023
Whenever we travel, we are always on the lookout for that colorful, quaint café that seems to say, “Come in. Get comfortable and make yourself at home.” That is precisely the feeling you get when you walk through the door of Chúla Artisan Eatery. You are always greeted by smiling faces, many who have been… Read more »
