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Sammy's Makes More Than the Definitive Pizza-Appetizers, Salads, Sandwiches on Menu
I know it's hot in the high desert and not a time when most of us think of staying there for a week.
Depends on how you plan to spend your time. We opted to use a full two-bedroom villa at Marriott's Desert Springs Vacation Club (conveniently abutting the gorgeous Desert Springs Marriott hotel and its amenities) so that we could invite others to come and spend two or three nights with us.
We lounged around the villa drinking Cakebread cabernet and St. Francis zinfandel and a few other goodies, and we even whizzed up some pina coladas.
We shopped a little in air-conditioned decorator shops. Unfortunately for Patrick's wallet, I found an Oriental chair that just happened to fit in the back of our car, and so it got to come home with me.
And we did go out and eat a bit. We had wanted to go to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Rancho Mirage before, but time ran out. This was our opportunity.
Each Fleming's steakhouse has its own personality. We have our own Fleming's here in Newport Beach's Fashion Island, where the menu is mostly the same and the wine program is identical.
In Rancho Mirage, four of us found our perfect comfort zone in those surroundings-a semi-open focus with a balance of friendliness and sophistication. There's an open kitchen along the back of the room with a swath of shiny copper running the full length of the cooking line.
Seating is at tables or booths, with all tables in dressy white linen and set with proper sparkling glassware to complement their serious wine list. Much advantage is taken of the warmth of cherry and mahogany wood, with panels of it covering walls. Even the slatted ceiling features the highly polished wood.
We just did not want to leave that special atmosphere, even when the evening was done. Add the seriousness of the service, tinged with just the right amount of...