Throughout the rest of the country, fall began in September when both temperatures and leaves started to drop.

In the Greater Palm Springs area, the change of seasons is more slowly perceptible, gradually cooling down, as even the quality of sunlight moves from intense yellow with purple shadows to silvery with blue shadows cast in a slightly different direction.

So it’s not until November that “fall” overtakes the desert. Here, “cool temperatures” mean an ideal 70-degrees during the day and low 50-60 degrees at night. All these subtle signals awaken a new hunger for the tastes of fall – pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg, duck, venison, white Alba truffles, Brussels sprouts, squashes, maple, apples, raisins, walnuts, pepitas and almonds.

On cue, restaurants throughout the Greater Palm Springs area have brought forth bountiful tastes of fall for all of us to enjoy – whether we come in shorts and sandals or wrapped in scarves and boots, depending on one’s interpretation of “cool weather.”

One of Greater Palm Springs’ iconic restaurants, Wally’s Desert Turtle, opened for its 38th season with Executive Chef Richard Pelz returning for his third season. Pelz’s sustainable farm-to-table California cuisine incorporates ingredients from local vendors, ranches, farms and fisheries that practice earth-friendly methods.

Tastes of fall on this menu include Hickory Smoked Arctic Char served with Brussels sprouts, lardons, butternut squash and smoked roe in a citrus butter emulsion. Another favorite of the season is Maple Leaf seared duck breast nestled in duck confit black rice set off by salsify, Romanesco broccoli and Tokyo turnips (small, radish-sized turnips) with toasted almonds in Bigarade (hybrid of pomelo and mandarin) bitter orange sauce.
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“We love the Brussels sprouts with the Arctic Char…tastes like fall!” said owner Michael Botello, whose late father, Wally, founded the restaurant.

​By Pamela Bieri

*Excerpt taken from the original article published on the Greater Palm Springs website
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Brian Leatart - Palm Springs Life Magazine

Wally’s Desert Turtle has found its following extends well beyond its Rancho Mirage borders.

The restaurant recently received a Diner's Choice Award from OpenTable, which is based on feedback received from diners who book through the reservation website and are marked as “seated” in the restaurant. OpenTable then emails these diners asking them to complete a Dining Feedback Form about the various aspects of their dining experience.

“The real story here is the validation of our recent rebranding efforts” says Michael Botello, owner of Wally’s Desert Turtle. “My father (Wally) built this restaurant in 1978 and I’ve been managing it since 1984. But it’s been a tough economy these past few years, so it’s great to see our reimagined menu and refreshed branding resonate with so many diners."

Wally’s recent appointment of New York City via Napa Valley transplant, Richard Pelz as executive chef, spurred a new menu, which now includes sustainable, organic and premium fare alongside some beloved classics.

“We are extremely happy to see that the recent OpenTable reviews scored us with 5-stars across the board; food, service, ambiance and overall experience”, Botello says.

Jim Powers - Palm Springs Life Magazine

The city of Rancho Mirage has plenty to boast about.

Last summer the world came to the desert destination when Sunnylands hosted President Barack Obama’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping during what was Rancho Mirage’s 40th anniversary.

There is more to the Rancho Mirage story, however, like fine dining, a vibrant business community and first-class accommodations.

Now the city has all of its communications tools in place with the recent publication of R/M Magazine, which was officially launched Jan. 14 with a celebration at Wally’s Desert Turtle.

The yearly magazine joins a revamped city website and quarterly newsletter that “makes Rancho Mirage a little more special than a lot of the other cities that try to be like Rancho Mirage,” says Mayor Richard Kite.

“Communication is really important to the city council in Rancho Mirage,” Kite adds, “and we think R/M Magazine is one form of communication that will make us a little different than the other cities.”

The 96-page magazine, produced by Desert Publications Inc., which is also home to well-known monthly publications like Palm Springs Life and The Guide, includes a visually striking look at Rancho Mirage in addition to profiles on its celebrated residents, like the iconic Carol Channing.

There are also articles on the city’s amenities, covering golf and tennis, spas, resorts, dining, and country clubs.

Rancho Mirage residents will receive a copy of R/M Magazine in the mail, and a digital edition will be available to online viewers on the city’s website, Palm Springs Life website and affiliated partners.