By Buzzy Gordon
Miramonte
Mediterranean Luxury in the Desert
Upscale resorts in southern California are used to protecting the privacy of celebrities, but one resort frequented by its share of celebrities is practically a well kept secret in itself. The Miramonte Resort and Spa in Indian Wells, California, is the epitome of low-key: its 215 guest rooms are situated in Mediterranean-style two-story villas (a far cry, for example, from the nearby J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort, with quadruple the number of rooms and floors). What the two  resorts do have in common is AAA four-diamond status, richly deserved in both cases.
The Mediterranean theme pervades the property, from the tiled fountains to the balustrade leading up from the main swimming pool to a spacious Jacuzzi-type spa. Thoughtfully, there is an adults-only pool and spa that afford more privacy, day and night.
While the rooms are comfortable, they are not the reason guests come to Miramonte. In fact, judging from my experience, the bathrooms –  and especially the showers and tubs – are no better than any run-of-the-mill three-star hotel. And the outer doors of my and neighboring rooms sure could have used new coats of paint. The reasons people come to Miramonte are the tranquility, the excellent food, and The Well Luxury Spa.
The Well, a free-standing two-story facility, expands out from its narrow lobby to  a foyer leading upstairs to treatment rooms, outdoors to the courtyard, and left to the relaxation room. The courtyard contains a wishing well and two heated pools, one divided into private grottos and another for hydro-yoga classes and Watsu treatments. The relaxation room is furnished with extremely comfortable lounge chairs and stocked with a nice selection of travel and wellness magazines. Unlike many spas, this single indoor relaxation room is coed, so care must be taken when reclining only in robes.
Although it is not easy to choose from the long list of treatments on The Well's menu, I generally find that it's hard to go wrong with a resort's signature treatment. And while none is so identified here, I took my cue from the title that links the treatment to Miramonte's overall theme: MEDITERRANEAN Organic Veggie Wrap, described thusly: "A hydrating, antioxidant nourishing wrap containing fresh cells from vegetables. A full body exfoliation is performed. As the finale to the 90-minute treatment, a Mediterranean massage is administered."
As the therapist applies the cooling vegetable gel to my entire body, she explains that the mixture is prepared from a nearby organic garden that supplies produce for the restaurant's kitchen. After being wrapped snugly, I am not left alone to s tew in the juices; rather, I am treated to a remarkable scalp massage that is simultaneously stimulating and relaxing.
Following a cleansing shower to rinse off what remains after much of the nourishing gel had been absorbed into my skin, I return to the table for a complete body massage. The hour-long, neck-to-toe finale is the perfect ending to this sumptuous treatment; I can honestly say that while I may have had the occasional spa treatment as good as this one, I cannot recall any single one leaving me feel any better or more relaxed than when I reluctantly had to disengage myself from the table. Back in the relaxation room, and fortified with dried fruit, nuts and tea, I prolonged the bliss by spending the three hours reading, dozing, and napping.
If the spa treatment was the highlight of the weekend stay, dining at the Miramonte's Ristorante Brissago was the culinary equivalent of extending that high. Since Italy is a Mediterranean country, the restaurant's name is not deceptive,  even if the food is not classical Italian, but rather continental with a Mediterranean flair. (For superb authentic Italian food, head over to Tuscany at the Marriott, just minutes away.) Special emphasis is placed on showcasing the freshest seasonal ingredients: a special dinner menu when I was there featured four courses, each of which revolved around fall apples. I could not resist trying all of them: appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert. It is a tribute to the range and versatility of the chef and his staff that none of them disappointed. (Of course, regular dinner selections were also offered.)
Surprisingly, the Brissago is the only restaurant at Miramonte; it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. (Contrast this to the Marriott, with no fewer than 11 restaurants/bars/eateries.) Throughout the day, the standards do not flag, whether we're talking about the quality of the food or the excellence of the service. The wait staff – many of whom are young immigrants from Eastern Europe – are friendly, well trained and knowledgeable about the food when asked for recommendations.
Finally, I do not claim this is an acid test of a restaurant's expertise, but I compared made-to-order breakfast dishes with the same menu items prepared in quantity to be served at Sunday's brunch. I am happy to report that the brunch buffet offerings were as fresh and tasty as the individual ones I had eaten the day before. In particular, I was delighted to discover that the delicious eggs benedict I had enjoyed on Saturday were equally scrumptious straight from the chaffing dish on Sunday.
© January 2008 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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