La Quinta Resort Hosts James Beard Weekend In Los Angeles

Triple James Beard Award recipient Chef Jimmy Schmidt from Morgan's in the Desert at La Quinta Resort & Club hosted a celebrity filled tasting dinner on Saturday, December 5.

The evening started with a first course of geoduck with ginger, radish, and lemon oil from Jar chef Suzanne Tracht paired with a glass of 2014 Grgich fume blanc.  Next was a mussel bisque with potato, carrot, ham, and a salsa of apples and celery from Border Grill chef Mary Sue Milliken paired with a 2012 Neyers chardonnay.  The third course from Juniper and Ivy, The Spence, and Flip Burger Boutique chef Richard Blais included albacore and veal with pickled celery and quail egg.  The third course from Morgan's Chef Jimmy Schmidt included a caramel cured duck breast with celery root and chanterelle ravioli served with a 2012 Neyers Mourvedre.  The last course from chef Larry Forgione was a Wagyu roast with caramelized root vegetables served with a 2010 Neyers Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The dinner highlighted ingredients seasonally and sustainably sourced from local farms.

Morgan's in the Desert is also hosting an Alba white truffle festival throughout December which includes a three-course prix-fixe menu with celery root risotto, pan roasted pheasant and a white truffle honey almond tart  for $99 per person.  To make reservations at Morgan's in the Desert at La Quinta Resort and Spa, call 760.564.7600.