As the old saying goes, you are what you eat. And if you’re lucky enough to eat at Zin American Bistro, then you’re an intoxicating mélange of hearty local ingredients, elevated by the adventurous perspective of a seasoned world traveler. It’s a style and sophistication synonymous with its owner, Mindy Reed. “When people ask who I am, I have a horrible habit of responding, ‘Oh, I’m Mindy from Zin.’ It’s become a huge part of my identity. It’s just fun,” she laughs. “There are times that I almost forget that my actual name is not ‘Mindy from Zin.’”
Owner and Wine Director Mindy Reed; Photo by Gregg Felsen
It’s an enviable reputation to have, considering how celebrated her award-winning restaurant has become. But what are Mindy’s actual origins? “I wish I had some romantic story,” she replies with her signature chuckle before explaining that her move to our hometown was a simple matter of childcare. She was able to watch her kids by day but needed to find an after-hours gig to pay the bills. “So I came to Palm Springs, and I got a job opening Chillers Nightclub, and the shift didn’t start until 8 or 9 o’clock at night since it was a nightclub.”
Sounds exhausting, but Reed doesn’t have time for fatigue; she’s too busy crafting her delectable brand of upscale dining with down-home panache. “We’re really an American restaurant with a French influence, which comes through in a few menu items but mostly techniques.”
Menu items? We’ll bite. When asked for some sample standouts, Mindy sets the table for awesomeness. “The Fried Blue Cheese Olives are one of the fun menu items. We also have the Zin Bites that are popular, and that’s kind of a twist on Beef Wellington. It’s a piece of filet mignon wrapped in some puff pastry with some Chèvre goat cheese, and then they’re fried and served with a Zinfandel shallot reduction.”