Derrik J. Lang, Author at Palm Springs Life

How Restaurant Design Impacts the Dining Experience

Derrik J. Lang — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:00:00 +0000

In the sun-drenched expanse of the Coachella Valley, where light has long captivated artists, a different kind of artistry plays out within the desert’s most lauded dining rooms, where psychological games of color, secrets, shadow, and storytelling take place.

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Culinary Pop-Ups Spice Up the Desert Food Scene

Derrik J. Lang — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:00:00 +0000

Quentin Garcia was taking his veggies for granted. That’s one lesson the Lola Rose Grand Mezze executive chef, who hails from Indio, learned when he walked into his kitchen at the Thompson Palm Springs and noticed visiting chefs from Mexico chowing down on raw ingredients. “They were enjoying a bowl of peppers as kitchen snacks,” Garcia recalls. “I’d never seen anything like it. They were really appreciating the bounty of produce we have here in California.”

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Jane Lynch Hits All the Bright Notes at The Plaza Theatre

Derrik J. Lang — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 16:20:00 +0000

Jane Lynch looks as cozy as Christmas morning on the patio of a midcentury home at Thunderbird Estates in Rancho Mirage. Wrapped in a cardigan and sipping a breve latte, she watches a group of golfers play through the 13th hole. The sunshine is a welcome break from the coastal fog of Montecito, where she lives with her wife, Jennifer Cheyne, and rescue dogs, a pair of senior cocker spaniels named Suzy and Charles.

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New Dining in the Desert: Bar Issi and 5 Foodie Spots to Try

Derrik J. Lang — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 23:15:15 +0000

Marissa Hermer wasn’t simply interested in creating a restaurant in Palm Springs. She wanted to curate a vibe. Judging by the buzzy crowds and tough-to-nab reservations, she and business partner Matt Hermer achieved it with Bar Issi, a Mediterranean eatery at Thompson Palm Springs.

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Contact in the Desert Brings the Unknown to Indian Wells

Derrik J. Lang — Sat, 10 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

For those prepared to possibly have their minds blown and beliefs challenged, the annual Contact in the Desert conference will delve into the strange and unusual over the course of four days at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. Just don’t expect tinfoil hats or little green men.

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What Is a Mangonada & Where to Try One in Greater Palm Springs

Derrik J. Lang — Wed, 07 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

The first note is marvelous mango. Ambrosial and fragrant, the tropical fruit’s honeylike sweetness is tempered by a subtle tang. Each taste is a creamy reprieve — part smoothie, part sundae. Soon, intrigue teases the tongue. A zesty burst, a saltiness settles in, then jets of chile heat begin to prickle. The mangonada is working its magic.

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Development of Disney’s Cotino Is Underway and Residents Are Moving In

Derrik J. Lang — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 21:17:51 +0000

I’m not exactly sure what I expected as I pulled off Gerald Ford Drive into Cotino, the 618-acre Disney-branded development taking shape in Rancho Mirage between Monterey Avenue and Bob Hope Drive. The anticipation of experiencing a totally new piece of Disney land made me feel a bit like a kid again. Would I be joyfully greeted by a waving Mickey Mouse? Or hear The Lion King soundtrack blasting out of rock-shaped speakers? Might there be a churro stand?

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New Sitcom Captures Palm Springs Style from a Burbank Soundstage

Derrik J. Lang — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 03:08:36 +0000

Do not adjust your television set. The barware in the living room may have come from Revivals. That vase in the kitchen could be a rare find from Misty’s Consignments. The pillows in the den were probably purchased from Reside Palm Springs. While the new desert-set Hulu sitcom Mid-Century Modern was filmed on a Burbank soundstage, the show’s crew was determined to create a Coachella Valley home that appeared absolutely authentic.

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Michelin-Starred Chef Curtis Stone Hosts Dinner at Palm Desert Food & Wine

Derrik J. Lang — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:00:27 +0000

“This is my favorite dining room in California,” Curtis Stone revealed to the crowd gathered inside the moody Mister Parker’s restaurant for an exclusive dinner prepared by the affable Australian chef. “I absolutely love it in here. It’s got such a beautiful energy.” Surrounded by ornate mirrors and eclectic artwork, creating an air of sophisticated, slightly rebellious indulgence, the evocative space proved to be the perfect setting for his Palm Desert Food & Wine event: An Intimate Evening With Curtis Stone.

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A Night of Star Chefs and Swanky Sips at Palm Desert Food & Wine

Derrik J. Lang — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 17:32:19 +0000

Beyond 10-foot-tall black gates in Palm Springs’ lush Indian Canyons neighborhood, hundreds of attendees of Palm Desert Food & Wine’s Celebrity Chef Reception left the real world behind and entered a star-studded culinary fantasyland for an evening of good food, drink, and design. Held at the Hal Lacy–built home of renowned interior designer Christopher Kennedy, the 2025 edition of the soirée was a total feast for the senses.

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8 Chic Bars Mixing Botanical Cocktails in the Coachella Valley

Derrik J. Lang — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 23:01:55 +0000

Basil. Sage. Rosemary. Thyme. Saffron. These herbs might sound like the backbone of a fabulous meal, but they’re also a secret ingredient behind some of the Coachella Valley’s most intriguing drinks.

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Local Chefs Take on New York Ahead of Palm Desert Food & Wine

Derrik J. Lang — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:23:38 +0000

Ashutosh Gairola did not have a backup plan. When making the trek from California to New York for this year’s Palm Desert Food & Wine preview dinner, a collaboration with the James Beard Foundation, Gairola’s connecting flight was postponed. While such a delay would have been a mere annoyance for most, it could have spelled doom for La Quinta Resort & Club’s star pastry chef.

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Why Zachary Quinto Loves Palm Springs—and What’s Next After Brilliant Minds

Derrik J. Lang — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 16:00:00 +0000

After filming the debut season of the NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds, Zachary Quinto steals away to the desert for a leisurely weekend of lounging.

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Celebrity Chefs Angelo Sosa, Richard Blais Open New Restaurants in the Coachella Valley

Derrik J. Lang — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:40:42 +0000

A crop of culinary stars are bringing new dining concepts to the desert. We spoke with two of them to find out why.

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Deserted Films Catalogs Home Movies From Palm Springs Area

Derrik J. Lang — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 16:00:00 +0000

With a passion for discovering and archiving forgotten footage, Deserted Films co-founders Melissa Dollman and Devin Orgeron are keeping Southern California’s homegrown history alive.

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9 Poolside Restaurants in Greater Palm Springs

Derrik J. Lang — Wed, 08 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

At these poolside restaurants, every dish comes with water views.

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The Past, Present, and Future of Drag Culture in Greater Palm Springs

Derrik J. Lang — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:54:00 +0000

Four local drag queens discuss the art, challenges, and community of drag culture.

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Chef Brings Turkish Influence to New Palm Springs Restaurant

Derrik J. Lang — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:00:42 +0000

Lola Rose executive chef Quentin Garcia shares a sneak peek of the forthcoming Thompson Palm Springs restaurant.

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Fun and Fabulous Drag Brunches in Greater Palm Springs

Derrik J. Lang — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 18:38:25 +0000

Sashay to these hot spots for fabulous weekend brunches hosted by drag stars.

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Chef Ysaac Ramirez Gets Creative With Mexican Cuisine at Drift Palm Springs

Derrik J. Lang — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 16:04:00 +0000

Maleza's executive chef is among those defining a new era of modern Mexican cuisine in Greater Palm Springs.

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Tasting Flights: The Best Samplers in Greater Palm Springs

Derrik J. Lang — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Why choose one when you can sample them all?

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New Restaurants Bring Adventurous Flavors to the Desert

Derrik J. Lang — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 02:55:00 +0000

From vegetarian fare to traditional Spanish tapas, recently opened eateries around the Coachella Valley are expanding the boundaries of the local culinary scene.

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For Austin Butler, It’s Good to Be The King

Derrik J. Lang — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:00:00 +0000

With his star-making performance in Elvis and high-profile upcoming projects, Palm Springs International Film Festival honoree Austin Butler is on a roll.

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Treat Yourself to Nobu in the Coachella Valley

Derrik J. Lang — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 02:44:00 +0000

The new Sensei Porcupine Creek resort in Rancho Mirage teams up with Nobu to prove indulgence can be good for you.

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He’s Got Spirit: Jonathan Bennett in Palm Springs

Derrik J. Lang — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 23:31:00 +0000

A desire for community led actor Jonathan Bennett to Palm Springs — and he’s not looking back.

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