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Purple Room Restaurant & Stage in Palm Springs reopened Thursday, August 28, ushering a new Chef, new Menu, new Crafted Cocktails and new Shows —
a tall order indeed. But Jennifer Town, the new Executive Chef, is more than up to the challenge and primed for success. “I expect people to be happy with the food,” says Jennifer Town, a graduate of the prestigious New England Culinary Institute; who also studied in Italy at Ristorante La Torre in Casale Monferrato where she learned the nuances of preparing fresh pastas, risotto and other delicacies of Northern Italian cuisine. I met Jennifer at the Purple Room Restaurant & Stage to talk about the delectable, new menu and more.
When did you get into cooking?
I found the path of really learning to cook at 15. I was with my parent’s friends for 3 months out of the summer, they had a fabulous cook—and that’s when I really got into cooking. When I went to USC college, I got my first apartment and started cooking all the time.
Where do you source your ingredients?
In California, you have really great produce—we try local as much as we can. We think highly about eating healthy—make sure we are treating the environment correctly.
What is the main difference between your previous jobs and this one at the Purple Room Restaurant?
I do a lot more cooking here. It’s 3 cooks and me—it’s very hands on, cooking all the time with a small group. At the Ace Hotel we had 30 cooks and me, the Ritz-Carlton had 60 cooks.
Are you also responsible for how the food is visually presented?
Yes. You eat with your eyes first—so if the food looks beautiful, you expect it to taste real good.
What do you cook for yourself when your at home?
At home, I cook a lot of pasta—Risotto, an Italian rice dish.
Did you have a mentor growing up?
The values I learned from my mom and dad.
What advice do you have for someone who’s interested in becoming a chef?
Make sure you really enjoy cooking. Having a passion for food.
Do you travel much to learn more about food and cooking?
Traveling is good to learn about different foods and different ingredients. When I go out to eat, it’s about half education and half pleasure.
What was your main goal with the new menu?
Put a fresh twist.
What was the response to the new menu when the Purple Room Restaurant & Stage reopened?
Everyone really liked the food. Lots of positive feedback.
What is one of your favorite dishes on the new menu?
Purple Pear Salad,
Braised Short Ribs in Trio House blend wine,
Halibut with red pepper, olive and fennel relish.
VENUE: PURPLE ROOM RESTAURANT & STAGE
LOCATION: PALM SPRINGS, CA
WEB: PURPLEROOMPALMSPRINGS.COM