Preferred Destinations
Blazing a New Path
Indian Wells Golf Resort ups its game again with culinary excellence
Kestrel, the newest culinary and cocktail creation of celebrity chef Richard Blais, has moved into the space long occupied by Vue Grille & Bar at Indian Wells Golf Resort, the renowned 36-hole slice of golf heaven in Indian Wells, California.
Blais, for those not already in the know, is one of this generation’s icons of the kitchen scene, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, who apprenticed under some of the best in the business, a noted chef and concocter of visionary yet approachable eats, and a cookbook author, TV star, and restaurateur to boot.
Indian Wells Golf Resort roared to life in the mid-1980s with two sporty Ted Robinson-designed tracks. Fundamental redesigns came in the mid-2000s, with Clive Clark tackling one course (now called Celebrity) and John Fought the other (now called Players). The clubhouse followed thereafter, and more recently, under-the-lights, let-the-music-rock golf activities were added with Shots in the Night (putting games) and Toptracer on the range.
Kestrel is the most recent such adaptation, and a compelling one at that.
“The VUE was a restaurant in search of an identity,” says Greg Sanders, the city of Indian Wells’ mayor. “Was it a bar-and-grill? Was it a fine-dining restaurant? Was it there to serve golfers? Was it there to serve the general public? We [Sanders and several of his council colleagues] decided it needed a brand identity.”
At Kestrel, Blais imparts his Left Coast take on American classics, signature cuts, plus coastal catches in a fresh, California-modern space that evokes the energy of surrounding flora and fauna. Perched atop the entryway stairs at Indian Wells Golf Resort, the restaurant reveals an airy, earth-toned dining room and expansive bar that invite in soaring views of mountain peaks, verdant fairways, and ombre sunsets. The outdoor terrace, complete with open-air bar and table seating, frames the perfect social setting to enjoy the region’s culinary style and natural allure.
As a Troon-managed golf property, city-owned IWGR — yes, it is municipally owned — was deemed a good fit for Blais given his presence at Park Hyatt Aviara at Troon-run Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, so a “field trip” was arranged.
“We experienced Richard Blais’ restaurant at Aviara [Ember & Rye] and I was blown away,” Sanders adds. “The quality of the food, the level of service, the pricing; it was exactly what we were looking for here.”
Fresh, innovative, locally sourced … everyone is doing that. But even just a quick look at Kestrel’s menu makes those not-hackneyed-here concepts resonate: Spicy tuna arepa, mint cashew couscous, American Wagyu zabuton frites, Moroccan vegetable tagine, crispy chicken “oyster” po’boy. And on the drink side, perhaps it’s a liquid-nitrogen margarita or a medjool negroni; fitting, since the Coachella Valley is by far the largest producer of medjool dates in the country.
“We are known as a golf destination. We wanted to upgrade the campus here and to create an experience that is larger than just great golf,” explains Indian Wells Golf Resort’s General Manager Robin Graf. “Indian Wells, the desert, has restaurants that are classic, timeless, many are old school. Kestrel is obviously more modern, it hits today’s genre of fresh, healthy, and vibrant, but is not overpowering. It’s not just steak and potatoes; it’s very California-ish. Blais creates that culinary experience. A lot of people come here just to play golf, now people will come because there is great food. It creates a better, richer experience for everyone, visitors and locals alike.”
And the name?
Named after the American Kestrel, the smallest and most colorful falcon known for its striking appearance, the restaurant captures the essence of the bird’s charismatic demeanor and graceful flights across Southern California skies. Drawing from this inspiration, Kestrel promises locals and visitors alike, a place to savor delicious meals, sip handcrafted cocktails, and soak in the natural beauty of the desert landscape. ▪
For more information or reservations, visit
www.IndianWellsGolfResort.com
