The Desert Icon’s Centennial Year Just Got A Little More Delicious
One hundred years in, La Quinta Resort & Club is still making moves. The iconic Coachella Valley retreat just announced the appointment of Chef Marco Aguilar as Executive Chef, and the timing couldn’t be more fitting.
Aguilar steps into the role during the resort’s centennial year, a milestone that’s been celebrated all of 2026 with limited-edition menus, centennial spa experiences and poolside events that are cementing La Quinta’s place as the destination of the summer. Now, with Aguilar leading the culinary charge, the next chapter of La Quinta’s dining story has a very compelling author.
The appointment marks a strategic move for the resort’s centennial programming. With more than 20 years of culinary experience across luxury resorts, private clubs and high-volume hospitality destinations throughout the Southwest, Aguilar brings serious credentials to the role. He launched his career in Santa Fe. There, he built his foundation at Bishop’s Lodge and La Posada before expanding his repertoire at Grappa Bistro in Colorado and across Arizona. He arrived in the Coachella Valley and never really left, and guests are the better for it.
A native of Mexico City, Aguilar has spent the past decade transforming Adobe Grill into one of the valley’s most beloved dining destinations, bringing a deeply personal connection to the menu. Think handmade tortillas made from fresh local corn masa, Oaxacan-inspired dishes and a tequila bar stocked with more than 100 bottles. The restaurant’s tableside guacamole and margaritas served in oversized hand-blown glassware have earned a following that extends beyond resort guests.
As Executive Chef, Aguilar oversees all culinary operations across La Quinta Resort & Club’s dining portfolio. This includes Morgan’s in the desert, the resort’s signature fine dining venue showcasing contemporary American cuisine rooted in the Coachella Valley’s seasonal bounty. He’ll lead menu development, restaurant and banquet programming and kitchen operations across the property’s full dining program.
“Chef Marco consistently demonstrated exceptional culinary talent and a genuine commitment to both our team members and guests,” said General Manager Dermot Connolly. “Having already played such an important role in the resort’s success, we are thrilled to see him step into this well-deserved position.”
Aguilar’s promotion is a full-circle moment for a chef who built something remarkable here and is now shaping what comes next. For a resort celebrating 100 years of culinary tradition, that kind of story is exactly the right ingredient.
Guests can reserve dinner at Adobe Grill and Morgan’s in the desert online or by calling 760.564.4111.
La Quinta Resort & Club
49-499 Eisenhower Dr
La Quinta, CA 92253
760.564.4111
Adobe Grill: Daily 5–10 p.m.; closed Tuesday. Happy Hour: 3–5 p.m. (bar only). Live Entertainment: F–Sa, 6:30–9 p.m.
Morgan’s in the desert: T–Sa, 5:30–9:30 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. Live Entertainment: F–Sa, 6–9:30 p.m.
