All American Dinner November 5th

On Wednesday, November 5th Bistro Escondido and artist Bobby Furst will host an All American Dinner at Bobby's studio in Joshua Tree. We would like this to remain accessible to as many people as possible so a la carte burgers, drinks and dessert will be available. Tickets for the full dinner, which includes a cocktail, appetizers, dinner, dessert and a glass of bubbly are $30. Please purchase advance tickets at http://bistroescondido511.eventbrite.com

If you just want to come for drinks or a burger please choose the "pay at the door option" and then just let us know what you plan to order. If you are just coming for a drink please come between 8 and 10 pm. Yes, we are hoping that this is going to become an Obama victory party. 

Here is the full menu:

Cocktail Hour 6-7 pm

Shot of Bulleit Boubon and a bottle of beer

or

Whiskey Sour

Deviled eggs with Saffron Aioli

Mac & Cheese croquettes

Dinner:

Choice of Hamburger made with All Natural Beef

or

House made wild mushroom Veggie Burger

choice of toppings include:

American Cheddar

Gorgonzola Cheese

Pickled Dill Tomatoes

Caramelized Onions

Bacon

Organic Greens

served with Freedom Fries and Salad

Dessert:

Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

All this plus a glass of bubbly for only $30! It's a tiny salve in tough economic times.

Please come so we can all be together to celebrate Hope and Change.

Brunch!

Eric and Liz have been hosting regular brunches at Le Haut Desert Aerie in Pioneertown and the locals are starting to catch on. Here's the menu from our last brunch:

Quiche with Leeks and Comté cheese $5

Banana Walnut Pancakes with Organic Maple Syrup $6

Side Salad of Organic Greens $3

Side of Roasted Rosemary Potatoes $2

Lemon Currant Scone with Butter and Jam $3

Chipotle Bloody Mary $5

Fresh Squeezed Grapefruit Mimosa $5

Ginger Hibiscus Sparkling Iced Tea $1

Bottomless Cup of Coffee $2.50

Tandoori in the Desert

Our Indian dinner was a huge success and with food and fun in excess. I hear there were a few post-dinner food comas, as evidenced by the fact that everyone except for a few hearty locals were headed home by 11 pm.

The no. 209 Gin and Junipero Gin from the Anchor Steam Brewery were immensely popular, as were the pakoras and chutney. I learned a very important lesson in the kitchen which is that you cannot deep-fy on an electric stove. Thanks to Kris for bringing her deep fryer. After some difficulty in that department dinner was served to much enthusiasm. I hear the coconut ice cream was very popular. Thanks everyone for coming and hope to see you next time!

Indian Dinner Saturday, May 31st

Here is the menu for our upcoming Indian Dinner at Rattler Ranch in Joshua Tree:

Bistro Escondido
Dinner Menu Saturday, May 31st 2008

We use all organic ingredients when available.

Cocktail Hour 6:30-8:00
No. 209 Gin and Tonic with Lime
or
Homemade Ginger Ale sweetened with Agave Nectar

Acorn Squash and Zucchini Pakoras
made with Chickpea Flour

served with:
Tomato and Fennel Chutney
Apricot and Currant Chutney
Coconut and Mint Chutney
Date and Cashew Raita

Pappadum

Main Courses

Choice of:
Mesquite Grilled Tandoori Grass-Fed Lamb
from Fox Fire Farms
or
Grilled Prawns
or
Grilled Market Vegetables

served with:
Sprouted Mung Bean, Jicama and Kumquat salad
with Lemon-Cilantro dressing

Chickpea, Spinach, Eggplant and Tomato Curry (Mild)

Vindaloo Curry with Potato and Vegetable (Spicy)

Grilled Naan Bread

Cucumber-Mint Raita

Yellow Rice

Dessert:
Mango Cardamom Sorbet
or
Chai Masala Coconut Ice Cream

Menu subject to change according to availability and creative whims.
Thirty to Forty Dollars per Person

Click here for reservations.

Italian Dinner Thursday, May 8th 2008

Our first dinner at Rimrock Ranch was a huge success thanks to Jim and Nikki who hosted and Kate and Charley who helped in the kitchen. The complete menu and link to photos follows. Thanks everyone, we all had a blast! Next dinner is Saturday, May 31st at Rattler Ranch in Joshua Tree, we are serving Indian food with a choice of lamb, shrimp or vegetarian. Click here for reservations.

Bistro Escondido
Menu Thursday May 8th, 2008
We use all organically grown ingredients when available.

6 pm Cocktail hour:
Limoncello with sparkling water and a splash of Campari
Thin crust Pizza Bianca with rosemary and Asiago Cheese
Deep fried olives

7 pm Insalata:
Grilled Portabello Mushrooms and Asparagus with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and
shaved Pecorino Romano cheese

Main Course:
Roasted Heirloom Tomato Tart with Herbed Crust
Potato Gnocchi with Gorgonzola and Radicchio

Dolci:
Olive oil cake with Mission Fig and Meyer Lemon compote

Click here to see photos.

Brunch Coming Soon!

Our first brunch has been rescheduled for June 22nd and will take place at Eric Mueller's beautiful house in Pioneertown. More information will be available soon. This will be open seating, no reservation required and served a la carte. Here is the menu:

A&A Farm Huevos Rancheros with Black Beans 7

Homemade Sugar Free Granola with Organic Fruit
and choice of Yogurt or Homemade rice milk 7

Side of Quinoa Cornbread stuffed with
Queso Fresco and chiles 3
Or dairyless version with squash and chilies

Small salad 3

Bottomless cup of Coffee 2.50

Bottomless Jamaica Iced Tea
sweetened with Agave Nectar 2.50

Spicy Bloody Mary with Chipotle Pepper 5

Fine Dining in the High Desert

Bistro Escondido is a private supper club that meets at rotating locations in the high desert near Joshua Tree. Each guest makes a voluntary contribution towards the cost of food and drinks. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

We meet three times per month for a mid-week dinner, a Saturday dinner and a Sunday brunch. Mid-week dinners are more informal, serving four courses including cocktails and snacks to get the appetite whetted, appetizer or salad, main course and desert. Main course is served family style.

Saturday dinners are a bit more formal and elaborate and move at a slightly more relaxed pace. We start with cocktails and snacks, then appetizer or salad, one or possibly two main courses, then desert or a cheese plate.

Brunch features farm fresh eggs, homemade sausage, homemade baked goods with homemade jam or marmalade, homemade granola, fresh fruit and a giant salad in the form of a chipotle Bloody Mary!

Naturally we strive to serve only the freshest, locally grown ingredients. We do not usually serve meat unless we have a guest chef who wants to cook some but we do serve fish and always have vegetarian options. Vegans can be accommodated with advance notice, as can people with food allergies or other concerns. 

There are twenty tickets available for each dinner and brunch is open seating. Members may buy as many tickets as they like but cannot refer others to come on their own, they must be brought to their first meal and then can be added to our email list.

Each dinner is a bring your wine affair and we do provide non-alcoholic cocktails.

Tickets must be purchased by the day preceding the dinner and cancellations are accepted with at least twenty-four hours notice.

Hope to eat with you soon!