Openings

Jose Garces Brings El Jefe, Which is Essentially Distrito, to Palm Springs This Weekend

El Jefe's tequila bar
El Jefe’s tequila bar Photo: Saguaro Hotel

This Friday, James Beard-winner Jose Garces heads west, opening a location of his Philly wine bar, Tinto, along with a new restaurant concept called El Jefe, at Joie De Vivre’s Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs. While Tinto reprises the brand’s same Basque and Northern Spanish-influenced, wine-friendly cuisine that is found on the East Coast, El Jefe is a newly-named concept celebrating the cuisine of Mexico City.

The menu closely mirrors the chef’s Distrito, right down to sharing dishes like Ignacio nachos, ceviche, pork belly posole, and tacos, although Garces gives the Southern Californian palate enough credit to include tongue and goat tacos among El Jefe’s spread. The restaurant swaps out Distrito’s naco Pink Taco luchador vibe for a wild west vaquero motif under a central tequila bar that offers over 100 labels. To celebrate the opening, Garces is coming to the restaurant this weekend, from February 17th to 20th, to cook and greet fans. Beyond that, one can only hope he will not be an unfamiliar face around the Palm Desert now that he has two projects there in bloom. Check out El Jefe’s full menu of eats below.

Tinto and El Jefe, 1800 East Palm Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs. 760-323-1711
.

strong>EL JEFE MENU

Entradas

GUACAMOLE
MASHED AVOCADO, JALAPEÑO, COTIJA CHEESE, HOUSE MADE TORTILLA CHIPS $6

IGNACIO NACHOS
BLACK BEANS, TOMATO, QUESO MIXTO, JALAPEÑO, CHILE DE ARBOL, RADISH $10

ENCARNACIÓN NACHOS
SKIRT STEAK, REFRIED BEANS, QUESO MIXTO, CHILE DE ARBOL, CREMA, CILANTRO $11

QUESO FUNDIDO
DUCK BARBACOA, POBLANO CHILE RAJAS, QUESO MIXTO $12
TAMALES MOLE POBLANO, SHREDDED CHICKEN $5

ESQUITES
SWEET CORN, QUESO FRESCO, CHIPOTLE

Ceviches

CEVICHE DE CAMARONES
SHRIMP, SPICY TOMATO, AVOCADO, PLANTAIN CHIP $12

CEVICHE DE ATÚN
YELLOWFIN TUNA, SERRANO-COCONUT SAUCE, LIME SORBET, TOMATILLO, TOSTADITA $13

CEVICHE DE HAMACHI
YELLOWTAIL, HABANERO ORANGE SAUCE, SANGRITA SORBET, MINT $14

Sopas
TORTILLA
TOMATO, CHICKEN, PASILLA CHILE BROTH, QUESO FRESCO, AVOCADO $7

POZOLE
PORK BELLY & HOMINY SOUP, LITTLENECK CLAMS, CHORIZO, SALSA VERDE $10

Ensaladas

CHILANGO CHOP
ROMAINE, BABY ARUGULA, WATERCRESS, GREEN APPLES, CRANBERRIES,
SPICED PECANS, HONEY-LIME VINAIGRETTE $8

ANGELICA’S FRESA
STRAWBERRIES, SPINACH, MELON, CABRALES, SERRANO-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE $8

GRANADA
POMEGRANATE, HONEYDEW, JÍCAMA, ORANGE, PEPITAS, LEMON VINAIGRETTE $8

Tacos
CHIPOTLE SHORT RIB
WHITE ONION, RADISH, CILANTRO, CREMA, QUESO FRESCO $7

CARNITAS
SMOKY BLACK BEANS, PINEAPPLE-HABANERO SALSA $7

PESCADO
CRISPY FISH, PICKLED RED CABBAGE, AVOCADO, CHIPOTLE $8

HONGOS CON RAJAS
ROASTED MUSHROOMS, POBLANOS, ONION, QUESO BLANCO $6

POLLO
CHICKEN ROPA VIEJA, QUESO FRESCO, CREMA, RADISH $8

CAMARONES Y CHORIZO
SHRIMP, CHORIZO, REFRIED BEANS, TOMATO, RADISH $9

LENGUA
TONGUE, CEBOLLA CRIOLLA, SALSA VERDE $7

CABRITO
GOAT, BLACK BEANS, ORANGE-HABANERO SALSA, GOAT CREMA $9

Margaritas

CANTINA EL JIMADOR
REPOSADO, FRESH LIME - WITH FRESH FRUIT $10/$49 - $12/$57

EL JEFE
DON JULIO REPOSADO, FRESH LIME - WITH FRESH FRUIT $15 - $17

PALOMA
SAUZA HORNITAS PLATA, GRAPEFRUIT SODA, LIME, SALT $8

Mexican Sangria

RED
RED WINE, APPLE, SPICED SIMPLE SYRUP, FRESH FRUIT $8

WHITE
WHITE WINE, PEACH, SPICED SIMPLE SYRUP, FRESH FRUIT $8

PITCHER $35

Cocteles

MICHELADA
MODELO ESPECIAL, LIME, SPICES, SALT $6

TITO’S LEMONADE
TITO’S VODKA, FRESH SQUEEZED LEMON JUICE $10

EL SANTO GIMLET
REPOSADO, LIME JUICE, CILANTRO $12
HEMINGWAY JALAPEÑO INFUSED TEQUILA, MARASCHINO, GRAPEFRUIT $12

Cervezas

Draft

DOS EQUIS AMBER (MEX) $6
DOS EQUIS LAGER (MEX) $6
NEGRA MODELO (MEX) $6
GREEN FLASH WEST COAST IPA (USA) $7
LEFT COAST GREAT WHITE (USA) $7
NORTH COAST SCRIMSHAW PILSNER (USA) $7

Bottles & Cans

TECATE (MEX) $4
MODELO ESPECIAL (MEX) $4 RED PIG (MEX) $5
CORONA (MEX) $5
CORONA LIGHT (MEX) $5
PACIFICO (MEX) $5

Non-Alcoholic

COCA COLA MEXICANO $4
JARRITOS (GRAPEFRUIT, MANDARIN) $4
AGUA FRESCAS (JAMAICA, TAMARINDO) $4
HORCHATA (SWEETENED RICE MILK) $4

Jose Garces Brings El Jefe, Which is Essentially Distrito, to Palm Springs This