We enjoyed our last meal during our stay in the Coachella Valley at Johannes Restaurant. Owner Johannes Bacher channels his Austrian roots with a contemporary flair at this twelve-year-old gem in downtown Palm Springs. When you walk into this restaurant you will be amazed at how modern yet soothing the décor is. The restaurant was recently remodeled by the chef’s brother, and the stunning blond wood, stainless steel accents, warm colors, eclectic art, and even the strategically placed Granny Smith apple centering each table all invite the diner into another culinary world, one that many restaurants only dream of venturing into. 

Our meal at Johannes was first-class. For both my husband and me, all courses arrived and were cleared by separate servers at the same time. New, appropriate cutlery was gently place tabletop prior to each course arriving. The server checked on us frequently, and our water glasses remained filled for the entire meal. We enjoyed and reveled in the fine European dining and service experience we had at Johannes. 

The Restaurant Week menu offers guests many delicious selections of fresh starters, mains, and desserts, however, given our short trip, we wanted to try a more traditional flight of dishes. This included the wild mushroom soup with tarragon crème fraîche and white truffle oil; escargot baked with garlic, breadcrumbs, and green herb butter; cheese spätzle; Wiener Schnitzel with roasted parsley potatoes, cranberries, lemon, and cucumbers in a dill sour cream dressing and topped with a caper and lemon sauce; and seared kangaroo. 

It is difficult to choose one dish over the next because they all were so delicious, but what stood out for me was the quality of the ingredients—most fresh, many organic—with real tastes and textures. The delicate blend of mushrooms in the soup, the green herb butter with tender snails, the juicy pounded veal of the Wiener Schnitzel, the herbs and garbanzo beans in the spread for the fresh bread at the beginning of the meal, and the mix of the fresh dill and sour cream with the cucumbers all reminded me how important fresh local ingredients are to a high-end establishment such as Johannes. And, of course, the apple strudel was the best I have ever had. For $38, the Restaurant Week meal was a steal! But I would go back and pay much more for such a fine meal, especially those traditional Austrian favorites such as spätzle and Schnitzel.

May 31 – June 16 we will be participating in Restaurant Week. 

Click here to view our delicious special menu.

Snap a photo of the traveling life-sized cutout of Marilyn Monroe and enter to win dinner and a show for two!  She will be travelling Palm Springs May 1 through May 31, so you have plenty of time.

Click here for more information.

Thank you for voting us Best Continental Restaurant in the Coachella Valley. We are honored to have been chosen for this very special recognition.

Front Row Left to Right: Matt Wittig, Lorena Santibanez, Gilbert Ramos, Barrie Shulman, Ariel Martinez, Chef Johannes Bacher, Angelica Abril, Stefanie Carranza

Back Row Left to Right: George Kline, Fabian Toledo, Rafael Toledo, Edgar Solorio

To add to all of the acclaims from Bon Appétit, Wine Spectator, Travel & Leisure, Elle Magazine, Open Table, Zagat, the New York Times, LA Times, Condé Nast UK, Vogue Netherlands, Best Continental & Romantic Dining by Palm Springs Life Readers and many more, Chef Bacher has been recognized as one of the country’s top culinary talents in Best Chefs America.

Best Chefs America is the first-ever peer review guide of the best chefs in the United States. According to Best Chefs America, the chefs profiled in the publication were nominated by other chefs, culinary professionals and food enthusiasts and were chosen after extensive interviews by fellow chefs and the Best Chefs America analysts.

“I was excited, very honored,“ Bacher said. “This is a special recognition.”

Over 5,000 chefs across the country were interviewed for the publication. Less than one percent of the chefs interviewed made it into the 386-page coffee table book.

“It means I am recognized by my peers with this prestigious nomination,” Bacher said. “This is different than being honored as the restaurant, this recognition is about me and being a best chef!”

According to Bacher, what sets Johannes Restaurant apart from many others is that the dishes reflect his Austrian heritage, which not very many restaurants feature, and that his menu is continental with a global twist. His international-inspired menu, which he gained from working in different countries and with renowned chefs from all over the world, has earned him the name, The Eclectic Chef.

Bacher names the raw Brussels sprout salad; Kangaroo; the Ahi Tuna and avocado tartare with crispy won ton, grated horseradish, soy mustard and Austrian pumpkinseed oil; smoked Idaho Steelhead trout with potato, dill and Granny Smith apple salad and horseradish-grain mustard dressing; and the Austrian classic and Johannes Restaurant signature dish, Weiner Schnitzel as some of the popular dishes at his restaurant.

Out of the many awards and recognition Johannes Restaurant has received, two stick out in Chef Bacher’s mind the most: Best Continental Restaurant by Palm Springs Life readers and Best Chef America.

“Being awarded the best Continental Restaurant by Palm Springs Life readers means a lot to me,” Bacher said, “the readers are my customers who believe in my restaurant and enjoy my cuisine. The Best Chef America is a very prestigious award and there are a lot of my fellow professional chefs in America and I feel very honored to be included in this recognition.”

Johannes Restaurant is world-class dinning, with a chef who is recognized as being one of the best in America, in the heart of Palm Springs. Stop by, order the Wiener Schnitzel and congratulate Chef Johannes on being named to Best Chef America.

See the original article in the Top of the Town Blog.

Chef Johannes Bacher of Johannes restaurant in downtown Palm Springs has been honored as one of the country’s top culinary talents in the inaugural edition of “Best Chefs America”.

FROM: PALM SPRINGS LIFE

Johannes restaurant in downtown Palm Springs is on a roll. 

First, Palm Spring Life readers chose Johannes as the top Continental Restaurant for Best of the Best 2013. 

And now chef Johannes Bacher has been honored as one of the country’s top culinary talents in the inaugural edition of “Best Chefs America”. 

“Best Chefs America” is the first-ever peer review guide of U.S. chefs, who were chosen after extensive interviews between their fellow chefs and “Best Chefs America” analysts. Chef Bacher has been showcased in the 386-page coffee table book released in March. 

“I am thrilled to be nominated by my peers and included in Best Chefs America,” said Bacher. “This recognition is truly an honor and gives me yet another reason to be appreciative of my fellow professionals and chosen profession.” 

“Best Chef America” analysts conducted more than 5,000 confidential telephone interviews with chefs who were nominated by other chefs, culinary professionals and food enthusiasts across the country. The interviews consisted of a series of proprietary questions, and software was used to aggregate the data. Chefs earning the highest scores among their peers in their region were included in the guide. 

“Chefs themselves truly understand what it takes to be successful in this competitive industry, and Best Chefs America offers them a forum to express their views,” said Elizabeth Fishburne, “Best Chefs America” lead analyst. 

Bacher is known as the “Eclectic Chef”. His extensive experience traveling the world has contributed to the vision for his restaurant. His subtle, creative dishes are exciting and his cosmopolitan menu shows off Bacher’s Austrian roots. 

Johannes is open seven days a week starting at 5 p.m. Located at 196 Indian Canyon Drive – for reservations call (760) 778-0017 or visit www.johannesrestaurants.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kathleen Bennett (760) 774-7178 | kathleen@resortmktg.com 

 LEADING CHEFS AROUND THE COUNTRY AGREE:

CHEF JOHANNES BACHER OF JOHANNES RESTAURANT NAMED TO
BEST CHEFS AMERICA 

PALM SPRINGS, CA– April 5, 2013:  Chef Johannes Bacher, of Johannes Restaurant, has been honored as one of the country’s top culinary talents in the inaugural edition of Best Chefs America. This is the first-ever peer review guide of U.S. chefs, who were chosen after extensive interviews between their fellow chefs and Best Chefs America analysts. Chef Bacher has been showcased in the informative and exquisitely produced 386-page coffee table book that was released on March 1, 2013. 

“I am thrilled to be nominated by my peers and included in Best Chefs America,” states Chef Bacher.  “This recognition is truly an honor and gives me yet another reason to be appreciative of my fellow professionals and chosen profession.”

“Chefs themselves truly understand what it takes to be successful in this competitive industry, and Best Chefs America offers them a forum to express their views,” states Elizabeth Fishburne, Best Chefs America Lead Analyst. “Based on the overwhelmingly positive response from more than 5,000 participating chefs, it is clear that the chef world was ready for us.” 

About Chef Bacher, Johannes Restaurant

Johannes is known as the “Eclectic Chef”. Experience Award-winning, Inventive Euro-Austrian Cuisine from Creative Chef Johannes Bacher.  His many years of experience traveling the world have contributed to the vision for his restaurant.  His subtle, creative dishes are exciting and his cosmopolitan menu shows off Chef Bacher’s Austrian roots.  As his guest you will delight in his eclectic and delicious menu selections, extensive wine list both European and American and his impeccable service.

Johannes is open 7 days a week at 5 PM. Enjoy private events in one or more of their rooms, patio dining for balmy desert nights or you can relax at the bar if you prefer a more relaxed dining experience. Whatever you choose your experience will be one of the best in Palm Springs. Located at 196 Indian Canyon Drive – for reservations call (760) 778-0017, follow us on Facebook  and Twitter,  or make reservations through Open Table. 

About Best Chefs America

Best Chefs America is the ultimate chef’s guide to chefs. Analysts conducted more than 5,000 confidential telephone interviews with chefs who were nominated by other chefs, culinary professionals and food enthusiasts across the country. The interviews consisted of a series of proprietary questions, and software was used to aggregate the data.  Chefs earning the highest scores among their peers in their region were included in the guide. The results were compiled into a 386-page coffee table book, complete with chef listings broken down both geographically and alphabetically. Best Chefs America also features stunning photography and highlights emerging culinary trends and ingredients uncovered during the interviews. “Chefs know best,” states Bill Blalock, chairman and chief executive officer, Best Chefs America, LLC. “They are very aware of who is consistently at the top of their game and making strides in the industry. We are so pleased with the initial response and congratulate those honored in the guide.”

St. Patrick’s Menu – Click to Enlarge

Chef Johannes Bacher of Johannes Restaurant has long been known as the “Eclectic Chef” because of the innovative global twists he adds to the Euro-Austrian cuisine served at his restaurant.

On Sunday, March 17th, the Eclectic Chef, Bacher, will be serving a special Austrian-Irish St. Patrick’s Day dinner menu along with the regular dinner menu.

The Austrian St. Patrick’s day menu is the first to be served at Johannes.

“We have been asked by some of our customers,” said Bacher. “If the menu is popular we will think about next year keeping the menu the same or add new items.”

The St. Patrick’s Day menu will feature grass-fed boiled short ribs with cabbage and potatoes; potato leek soup; oven-baked organic Irish Salmon; Stiegl Tag Unfiltered Lager Beer with a green twist and raisin bran pudding with vanilla sauce; an Austrian-Irish dessert, which consists of raisin, bran, pudding and a rum vanilla sauce.

The concept for the special menu was a result of Bacher’s worldly travels.

“I had an Irish girlfriend at one time and spent a few weeks in York, Ireland.” Bacher said. “I became familiar with the cuisine of the Irish.”

According to Bacher, Irish and Austrian cuisines are similar and were easy to blend to create for the menu.

“There is a similarity when it comes to certain holidays between the Irish and Austrians,” he said. “Because the seasons are similar, we pretty much grow the same vegetables and use the same type of ingredients, such as boiled beef, potatoes and cabbage.”

It takes a full day to prepare the menu, said Bacher.

“We prep the meat the day before since it is better to boil the meat the day before. The meat is better and has more flavors cooked the day before. The remainder of the menu is prepared, fresh, the day of.”

Bacher encourages everyone to come by Johannes Restaurant on March 17th whether you are Irish, Austrian, a new customer or a regular customer.

“I will have my regular guests dine that evening,” he said. “We will advertise the special menu (also) which usually brings in new customers.”

Johannes Restaurant will also be serving the regular dinner menu; the restaurant just may be a bit more festive than usual.

“We may have to decorate with festive balloons and offer green Austrian beer,” Bacher said.

The fusion between Irish and Austrian food and cultures never sounded more delicious and fun.

For more information about Johannes Restaurant, go to their page here.