By Denise Ortuno
Exceptionally fresh, organic and delicious fare await you at Wildest Greens in Palm Desert.
Upon entering Wildest Greens in Palm Desert, you can almost feel the crisp freshness of what your experience will be. With stylish furniture and décor, it is clear that every move made was intentional for a memorable restaurant encounter. Opened earlier this year by local actress, philanthropist, business leader and health/fitness advocate, Denise DuBarry Hay, Wildest Greens has already become the place to be for organic dining, the ultimate in farm- to table fare.
I stopped by Wildest Greens on a beautiful Sunday morning, ready to feel the benefits from delighting in some organic goodness. There are different places to enjoy your time at the eatery. There’s a lounge with stylish couches, tables and chairs sitting underneath a well-appointed chandelier, a bar, where guests can enjoy wine and beer as well as food items, and a Smoothie Bar, where juices and smoothies are the stars, as well as a traditional dining room.
For this occasion, my boyfriend and I decided to take a couple of seats at the Smoothie Bar, as I was eager to try some of their Cold-Pressed juices that they highlight. And if you think Cold-Pressing juice doesn’t make a difference, think again. Our experience at Wildest Greens was led by Matt Williams, who is kind of the Jack of all trades at the restaurant. He was very helpful in guiding us through the juice descriptions, as well as informing us about different items on their extremely infinite menu.
We went for a flight of juices, which are a variety of six juices served in shooter glasses on a glass tray. The Cold-Pressed juices availability depend on the day. On the day that we were there, the flight came with Hot Shot (turmeric, ginger, green apple, lemon, black pepper, cayenne), Sunrise (watermelon, green apple, carrot, pineapple, lime), Morningrita, (apple, H2O, lime, moringa, baobab, sea salt), Blood Cleanse (beet, carrot, apple, lemon, burdock, cilantro, ginger, parsley, garlic, cayenne, turmeric), The Hangover (tomato, celery, carrot, spinach, red bell, aloe, basil, lime, cayenne, pepper, E3live) and Kombucha. It is to be noted that the shots, like the Hot Shot and Flu Shot (no needle required), are meant to be “shot” not sipped, as I quickly found out. The shots deliver a jolt of flavor that if left to linger in sipping mode, may not have the same desired impact.
Now let’s just touch on the Cold-Pressed thing for a second. The process involves the use of a hydraulic press, which is used to extract the juice without heat or additives. This process retains the nutrients of the juice, optimizing the benefits of consumption. Like I said before, if you think it doesn’t make a difference, you need to taste it first. It seriously was the best juice that I have ever tasted. The juices were amazingly lite and airy…almost seemed to float out of the glass. The taste was clean and crisp. Drinking it made me feel like I was doing something very good for my body. One heck of a juice adventure.
Another part of the juice flight was their Kombucha Tea on tap. This effervescent beverage is made in-house, and fermented for 5 weeks. It is joyfully refreshing, and I’m admittedly a little hooked on it. The juices and Kombucha are also available to be purchased by the bottle (selections may vary).
Besides Wildest Greens insanely tasty juices and Kombucha, is their food. The extensive menu has a myriad of selections, and has something for everyone and then some. If you can’t find something on the menu that you like, you’re simply not reading the menu. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant has creative items such as, Paleo Pancakes (made with eggs, almond & coconut flour), Wildest Greens Brekkie Burrito (chicken sausage, eggs, potatoes, nut cheese, avocado, pico de gallo, black beans, choice of whole wheat or gluten free tortilla), The Deep Green Salad (baby greens topped with seaweed, shaved white onion, diced marinated cucumber, seasonal Australian finger lime caviar and Asian dressing), Bison Burger (caramelized onion, spicy harissa), house made Gravlox and so much, much more. Apart from their dine in menu, there is also a Grab and Go area, with items ready for those on the move.
With everything organic and fresh, you never have to worry if what you’re putting in your body is good for you. It’s kind of like guilt free dining. Executive Chef, Jeffery Cooper is perfect to head the kitchen at Wildest Greens. After surviving cancer, the seasoned chef came to appreciate organic foods, embracing them and implementing them into his life, “Food is medicine,” says Cooper, and that would make Wildest Greens the most delicious pharmacy around.
Wildest Greens is a restaurant that everyone should experience for phenomenally fresh, organic fare. I look forward to enjoying their juices again very soon, and working my way through their amazing menu, and relishing in every nutritious bite. To your health!
Wildest Greens is located at 72-990 El Paseo-Suite 3, Palm Desert Ca- 760-636-0441
