Another several days of music and desert camaraderie continues later this week, as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival hits its second weekend.
Tens of thousands of music fans descended on Indio to enjoy the music with dancing and drinking. All that motion and walking can certainly work up an appetite. And that’s where high-end culinary offerings are trying to fill the void.
As we’ve pointed out, other festivals such as Outside Lands, Jazz Fest and Austin City Limits have been cultivating local chefs and cuisine for years now.
Coachella still offers affordable slices of Spicy Pie and corn dogs. But those in search of fine dining at the festival were able to pay $225 for Outstanding in the Field, an experimental culinary pop-up series that usually takes place on farms or other rustic areas. But at Coachella it was held in the VIP area of the festival grounds, with muffled dance music and the sound of cheering crowds for ambiance.
Jeff Miller is the LA editor of Thrillist and a regular Coachella-g0er (he estimates this is his 15th visit to the festival) and also a contributor to KCRW’s Good Food. He spoke with KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis about the intersection of fine dining and music.