Morgan's Restaurant To Open at La Quinta Resort & Club

"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.