Overview Palm Desert Food and Wine is a four-day March festival in tents on El Paseo, Palm Desert's shopping street, where Curtis Stone, Nancy Silverton, Alex Guarnaschelli and Jet Tila were among the chefs in 2026 and the Grand Tastings poured from about 60 wineries. The run opens on Thursday with a cheese tasting, moves to a James Beard gourmet four-course luncheon and a celebrity chef reception on Friday, and closes with two days of Grand Tastings and a Sunday brunch. Palm Springs Life magazine produces it, and it supports FIND Food Bank. On site The tents go up on the west-side upper deck of The Gardens on El Paseo, between Larkspur and Lupine, with a shuttle from the lot behind El Paseo Village. At the 2026 Grand Tastings more than 30 restaurants plated bites, from Wally's Desert Turtle and LG's Prime Steakhouse to Shake Shack and Tía Carmen, with Carte Blanche partners including Workshop Kitchen and Bar and Oyster Cartel. Spirits and beer ran alongside the wine, from Hendrick's, Tanqueray and Tullamore D.E.W. to Luchador Brewing. The Grand Tastings are seated; chef demonstrations are first come, first served. Every event is rain or shine. Audience Every event is 21 and over, and one ticket covers all the food and drink, so guests graze the whole tent rather than buying by the plate. At the Grand Tastings many of the vintners, master distillers and brewers pour and talk with guests themselves. Talent and Influencers The 2026 roster was Curtis Stone, Alex Guarnaschelli, Jet Tila, Nancy Silverton, Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken, Zac Young and cheese expert Afrim Pristine, with local chefs alongside. Earlier years brought Tyler Florence, Dominique Crenn, Brooke Williamson, Fabio Viviani, Antonia Lofaso, Carla Hall, Gale Gand and Aarti Sequeira. Brand presence Sponsorship runs in named tiers down to Reserve, Aldente and Table levels, with the City of Palm Desert as welcoming sponsor for 2027 and an official hotel and official winery. A partner can put its name on an event such as the James Beard luncheon, sponsor a chef demonstration or brand a tasting lounge. Restaurants, wineries and spirits can also take Carte Blanche billing inside the Grand Tastings.