A chef finishes a dish a few feet away. Someone pours a wine you have never tried. The talk turns from what is on the plate to where you should eat tomorrow. Palm Desert Food & Wine is a very good reason to build a spring getaway around your appetite, and the program for March 18–21, 2027 is already worth planning around.

The four-day festival returns with chef-led meals, a cheese and wine evening, a private-estate reception and two afternoons of Grand Tastings, with Jet Tila, Brooke Williamson and Adrienne Cheatham among the chefs. Make Palm Desert your base, pick the experiences you want, and leave a little room between reservations to enjoy the desert.

March 18–21, 2027The Gardens on El Paseo, Palm Desert · seven ticketed experiences · ages 21 and over

Palm Desert Food & Wine 2027: who is coming

Produced by Palm Springs Life and presented by Agua Caliente Casinos, the festival sets up its tents on the west-side upper-level deck of The Gardens on El Paseo, 73-545 El Paseo, between Larkspur and Lupine. The chefs announced for 2027 so far:

  • Jet Tila, the Food Network star and Asian cuisine expert.
  • Brooke Williamson, Top Chef winner.
  • Adrienne Cheatham, whose cooking joins her Southern heritage to fine dining.
  • Dan Jacobs, who cooks a course at Friday’s luncheon and hosts it.
  • Afrim Pristine, the Toronto maître fromager behind Cheese Boutique and Food Network Canada’s Cheese: A Love Story.
  • Daniel Rodriguez, executive chef at Agua Caliente.

More chefs are promised as events are added. The restaurant, winery, brewery and spirits lists are still being drawn up too: the festival’s Taste and Sip pages still show last year’s names, so check back for 2027’s.

The 2027 schedule and ticket prices

These are the seven experiences on the festival’s schedule, with the organizer’s published prices. Each is its own ticket, so book the ones you want through the official ticket page; one does not cover the weekend.

ExperienceTimePrice Thursday, March 18A Passport to Cheese with Afrim Pristine6–8 p.m.$125 reserved seat Friday, March 19James Beard Gourmet Four-Course Luncheon11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.$250 reserved seat Friday, March 19Celebrity Chef Reception6–8 p.m.$150 Saturday, March 20Saturday Grand Tastings11 a.m.–3 p.m. Early Entry

Noon–3 p.m.$200 Early Entry

$175 Saturday, March 20An Evening With Jet Tila4:30–7 p.m. or 7–9 p.m.$275 reserved seat Sunday, March 21Sunday Brunch10 a.m.–noon$150 reserved seat Sunday, March 21Sunday Grand TastingsNoon–3 p.m.$175

Which experiences should you choose?

Thursday: cheese, wine and a little curiosity

A Passport to Cheese with Afrim Pristine is the natural opening night for anyone who loves the story behind a great ingredient. Pristine, a maître fromager and co-owner of Toronto’s Cheese Boutique, pours wines alongside a run of cheeses and talks through how they are made, how to pair them and the places they come from. The evening shares its name with his new book, A Passport to Cheese.

Make it your reason to arrive the day before the busy part of the weekend: settle into the house, take the afternoon slowly, and let the first evening be about something new.

Artisan cheeses, pears, figs and two wine glasses arranged on a ceramic platter
The pleasure of a good pairing, up close.

Friday: four chefs at lunch, then an evening reception

At the James Beard Gourmet Four-Course Luncheon, Jet Tila, Brooke Williamson, Adrienne Cheatham and Dan Jacobs each cook a signature course onstage before it is served, with wine, and Jacobs hosts. Proceeds go to the James Beard Foundation and FIND Regional Food Bank, the Coachella Valley’s hunger-relief charity.

For a more social evening, the Celebrity Chef Reception pairs appetizers, wine and cocktails with time to talk to the chefs, Afrim Pristine among them. It is at a private estate whose address goes to ticket holders, not at The Gardens, so follow the directions that come with your ticket.

The Grand Tastings: an afternoon to follow your appetite

If you want variety, start here. Restaurants, wineries, breweries, distilleries and specialty food makers fill the tents for a walk-around afternoon of tastes, conversation and chef demonstrations, with seating for when you need a break. Choose Saturday or Sunday by the chefs you want to watch and the shape of the rest of your trip.

On Saturday, Early Entry is the ticket for Jet Tila. It opens the floor at 11 a.m., and his demonstration runs 11:30 a.m.–noon, before general admission comes in. Brooke Williamson follows at 1:30–2 p.m. The extra $25 buys that first hour and the demonstration.

Sunday’s demonstrations are Daniel Rodriguez at 12:45–1:15 p.m. and Adrienne Cheatham at 2–2:30 p.m. Demonstration seats are first come, first served, so pick the one you most want and get there early.

A chef spoons herb oil over roasted-carrot tasting plates while two guests watch
Half the fun is watching a dish come together.

Saturday evening: Jet Tila at Mister Parker’s

An Evening With Jet Tila leaves Palm Desert for Mister Parker’s at Parker Palm Springs, 4200 East Palm Canyon Drive. Tila cooks a multicourse dinner from his approach to Asian cuisine, with wine pairings, and talks through each dish and why each wine was chosen. Every guest takes home his 101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die, and he will sign it.

Choose the 4:30 or the 7 p.m. seating when you book, and allow time to get from the tents to Palm Springs and change before dinner.

Sunday brunch: a slower seat at the table

Adrienne Cheatham cooks the Sunday Brunch at The Gardens course by course onstage, each served with a wine, and tells the stories behind them. If a seated meal and a chef in conversation appeal more than an afternoon of browsing, this is a lovely way to spend Sunday morning. The Sunday Grand Tastings follow at noon, on a separate ticket.

Make El Paseo part of the weekend

The setting is half the appeal. El Paseo is the valley’s street for designer shopping, fine jewelry, galleries and dining, so the hours between tickets can be as good as the tastings.

Our El Paseo guide will help you choose a few stops: a gallery worth your full attention, the boutique you have meant to visit, or a quiet dinner on a night with nothing booked. After a Grand Tasting, a very simple supper may be all anyone wants.

A couple with shopping bags walks along a shaded, palm-lined boutique street
Leave time between reservations to wander.

Where to stay for Palm Desert Food & Wine

With most of the festival at The Gardens, a home in Palm Desert keeps the drives short. Browse our Palm Desert vacation rentals, or look at Indian Wells and Rancho Mirage, both a short drive from El Paseo.

For friends making a weekend of it, the pleasures are simple: coffee before everyone gets ready, somewhere to put your feet up after a tasting, and a kitchen for the morning when only a quiet breakfast will do. Match the bedrooms and gathering spaces to your group, and check the minimum stay for your dates.

Our concierge team can have groceries waiting or arrange a private chef for the night you arrive. Ask about menus, prices and availability for your dates; it is arranged separately from festival tickets.

What to know before you go

  • Adults only. Every festival event is 21 and over; no children or infants, and no pets.
  • Know what your ticket covers. Food and drink at the event you have a ticket for are included. Each event is sold separately.
  • Use the festival parking. Park in the lot behind El Paseo Village and take the free shuttle to The Gardens. The San Pablo garage has very few spaces, and the organizer asks guests not to park in front of the homes on San Pablo.
  • Don’t drive after a tasting. Book a driver or a rideshare, or choose someone who is not drinking, and plan the trip to the reception and to Palm Springs separately.
  • Dress for the whole day. Comfortable shoes and a layer for the evening suit a day that moves from tents to shops to dinner. Our weather guide has March in the desert; check the forecast nearer the time.
  • Allergies. The festival says its chefs cannot accommodate food allergies, so ask chefs and vendors about ingredients as you go.
  • Accessibility. Guests who need accommodations can call the festival at 760-833-1612 before the event.
  • The terms. Events run rain or shine and tickets are non-refundable. Chefs, menus and times can change.

Questions people ask

When is Palm Desert Food & Wine 2027?

Thursday, March 18, through Sunday, March 21, 2027. The Grand Tastings are on Saturday, March 20, and Sunday, March 21.

Where is the festival held?

In tents on the west-side upper-level deck of The Gardens on El Paseo, 73-545 El Paseo, Palm Desert. The Friday reception is at a private estate whose address goes to ticket holders, and the Saturday Jet Tila dinner is at Mister Parker’s in Palm Springs.

How much are Palm Desert Food & Wine tickets?

From $125 for the Thursday cheese evening to $275 for the Jet Tila dinner. Grand Tastings are $175 either day, or $200 for Saturday Early Entry. Confirm the final price with fees on the festival’s ticket page.

Which chefs are coming in 2027?

Jet Tila, Brooke Williamson, Adrienne Cheatham, Dan Jacobs, Afrim Pristine and Daniel Rodriguez so far, each at different events, with more to be announced.

Can children go to Palm Desert Food & Wine?

No. Every festival event is for ages 21 and over, with no children or infants admitted.

Does a Grand Tasting ticket include the dinners?

No. The cheese evening, the luncheon, the reception, the Jet Tila dinner and the brunch each have their own tickets. Ask the festival about packages if you want several.

A weekend of good food deserves a beautiful place to stay

Pick your favorite experiences, bring people who love a good meal and leave room for a few slow mornings. We will help you find the home in Palm Desert and arrange a chef or groceries for the nights between.

Explore Palm Desert homes

Dates, chefs, times, prices and festival rules checked November 6, 2026 against the official Palm Desert Food & Wine website, its event pages and its FAQ. More chefs and events are still being announced, so confirm details before you book. This is an independent Desert Luxury Estates guide, not a festival publication.