Come along with me while I share the details of a fun trip (Fresh Air Retreat) I took with some other recipe developers to sunny (and hot!) Palm Springs, California!
Why Travel To Palm Springs?
- The Weather! If you’re into warm, humid-free temps, Palm Springs is your spot! This was my first time visiting the Coachella Valley and I can’t wait to return. I LOVED the weather, the hotter the better. and you know the cliche about “dry heat”? It’s a real thing. I was strangely wearing a sweatshirt in 90- degrees in the evening because it really felt like 70!
- Architecture! Palm Springs is known for its mid-century modern architecture. Take a self-guided tour through neighborhoods like Twin Palms and Vista Las Palmas, where you’ll spot beautifully restored homes from the 1950s and 60s. Some homes even offer tours, giving you a peek inside the stylish past of Hollywood’s favorite desert hideaway, which I didn’t get a chance to do, but will definitely do more site-seeing on my next visit!
- Sites/Culture! Palm Springs is home to Joshua Tree National Park, the Coachella Valley which has become famous in recent years due to the Coachella music festival and Stagecoach Festival. There are tons of art galleries, and shopping options, plus spas and resorts to relax in. And don’t forget the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway which is the world’s largest rotating tram car and ascend over 8,500 feet to the top of Mt. San Jacinto.
Dining In and Out!
We were lucky enough to have Chef Trimmel with us the whole week making gorgeous and delicious meals for us in the house where we stayed. He got creative with local ingredients and themes, while also incorporating our sponsors into his dishes. I need to plan a big vacation and hire him to come and be our chef. He was an absolutely amazing addition to the trip and a truly lovely human. Definitely check him out and follow him on socials. He’s a gem!
Here we all are marveling over his knife skills! lololol!
We did also get the chance to head out into Palm Springs, see some sites and enjoy a few hosted meals that did not disappoint!
California Dates: A Sweet Local Treat
If you’re looking to try a unique local treat during your Palm Springs visit, don’t miss out on California dates! The Coachella Valley, where Palm Springs is located, is one of the few places in the United States that grows dates due to its hot desert climate. These dates are celebrated for their natural sweetness, rich flavor, and soft, chewy texture.
We had the opportunity to meet with a passionate, local date farmer from the California Date Commission who prepped us a “date tasting flight” which was so cool. I really loved this segment of our trip and learned a ton. We were even gifted a big box of dates which I have been snacking on since! Did you know that one date has the same amount of potassium as 3 bananas? Crazy!
- 1. The Famous Medjool Date. Medjool dates are the most popular variety grown in the region and are sometimes called the “king of dates” for their large size and caramel-like flavor. They’re delicious as a snack on their own, blended into smoothies, or even stuffed with nuts or cheese for an appetizer.
- 2. Date Shakes. A trip to Palm Springs wouldn’t be complete without trying a date shake. This creamy, naturally sweet treat combines dates with ice cream or milk for a rich, flavorful shake that’s both refreshing and filling. Shields Date Garden, just a short drive from Palm Springs in Indio, is known for its famous date shakes, which have been a local favorite since the 1920s.
- 3. Date Festivals. If you’re visiting in early February, you might catch the annual Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival held in Indio. This festival celebrates the region’s date-growing heritage with everything from camel races to live entertainment and, of course, plenty of date-inspired foods.
- 4. Bringing Dates Home. Dates make a great souvenir! Many local date farms and specialty shops offer freshly packed dates you can bring home or give as gifts. Some farms even offer tours, so you can learn about the history and process behind date cultivation.
Happy Egg!
I LOVED meeting the team over at Happy Egg. They are extremely passionate about their hens, which got me excited too! There is a difference between free range and free vs cage free and their hens require a minimum of 21.8 square feet of range for every bird, which equates to 10 acres per 20,000 birds.
Inside every Happy Egg, you’ll find a rich amber yolk; every egg has a quality you can see, and a difference you can taste.They support small family farmers and currently work with 103+ small family farms throughout the midwest. Make sure to check out their store locator to see where you can find them in your area!
Onions 52
A highlight lunch was sponsored by the folks at Onions 52, which work with farmers to supply quality onions 52 weeks a year. They are dedicated to using sustainable farming practices to ensure the quality and environmental responsibility of every onion. They pride themselves in quality products and have even developed at “Smiley” sweet onion that is virtually tearless! I will be receiving a big box of these in the mail today and am over the moon excited! Store them in a dark, cool spot and they will last months!
Naturally tearless, Smileys are grown to be sweet and mild, transforming any dish into an enjoyable culinary experience without the discomfort of watery eyes. These onions develop their unique sweetness as they mature, making them versatile and perfect for both raw and cooked dishes.
Albertson’s
Albertson’s hosted a few different options for up throughout the retreat featuring their brand, Signature Select. This was a gorgeous afternoon snack that was set up for us with all sorts of goodies including fresh fruit, their chopped salads, my personal fave, nuts, veggies,, and ice cream sandwiches!
Products like their pre-made chopped salads and veggie trays help save me time in busy lives and that’s always a win for me.
Signature Select is available only at Albertsons Companies’ family stores including: Safeway, Albertsons, Tom Thumb, Jewel-Osco, Acme Markets, Shaws & Vons.
California Walnuts
Another highlight was once evening the folks at California Walnuts spoiled us with a make-your-own charcuterie board party featuring 3 different recipes for walnuts that Chef Trimmel developed. It was such a fun activity an done that I plan creating here at home! Walnuts taste sweet, and have a creamy, buttery texture that is perfect for baking this time of year as well as pairing!
There are endless opportunities to incorporate seasoned walnuts – versatile and nutritious – into your favorite dishes for holiday entertaining. Pairing walnuts with their favorite/trending seasoning flavor profiles and using them to elevate holiday charcuterie board, and more…
Grocer’s List
Beyond eating we also had lots of time to learn and share with each other about the current trends in influencer marketing, which is a big part of all of our businesses. Ben from Grocer’s List came and walked us through some new ways to help our readers and subscribers. New tech enables us to get you our recipes easily via social media as well as allow you to shop the ingredients of each recipe without any list making! It’s all about YOU and making our platforms easy to navigate and get information from!
Community
The heart of this trip was fellowship and learning with other recipe developers, some of which you might know and maybe a few that could be new to you to explore! I loved meeting and spending time with other gals doing the same job as I do. It’s a chance to share and grow within our businesses. Everyone of these girls was gracious, generous, and supportive and I feel honored to have gotten to get to know them all. I’m going to share their websites here for you to check out and browse, They all have some REALLY amazing things to offer!
Our Hosts!
The two girls that made this all come together and worked tirelessly behind (and in front of) the camera are Liz from The Lemon Bowl and Lauren from The Curious Plate.
All in all my trip was AMAZING. I loved getting to know each of the girls in attendance and have enjoyed continuing our friendship now that we are all back home. Palm Springs was glorious, and the fall/winter is a great time to visit when the temps aren’t quite as hot! I can’t wait to go back!
