A Sampling Of Salads Around Palm Desert

I'm on a perpetual search for Palm Desert's best salads -- for that perfect meal for quick business lunches or lazy afternoons with the girlfriends. Over the years, I've come to rely on some favorites.

These are my staples:

• The Saba Steak Salad, made of chargrilled tenderloin medallions on greens with potatoes and tomatoes, at This simple salad is dressed with an addictive and tangy tamarind sauce. It is pricey at $18 but worth it on special occasions.
• The Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad at . The $15 large version can easily feed three people if paired with an appetizer. The signature balsamic basil dressing is creamy on large chunks of chicken with generous walmuts and gorgonzola cheese.
• The OC Raw Chopper at is great when I want something healthy and am craving something light and refreshing. Filled with a bountiful assortment of vegetables, greens, avocado, nuts, julienned beets and sprouts, it comes with a light lemon oil garlic dressing.
• The Thai Crunch salad at with cabbage, edamame, peanuts, rice sticks, crispy wontons, and chicken. It comes with lime cilantro and Thai peanut dressing.

These are my favorites, but I am eternally on the lookout for more ethnic and exotic varieties and would love to hear input on other salad gems!