Spotlight29 Casino Opens New Eateries In Coachella

Press release from Spotlight 29 Casino:

April 18, 2022

Aiming to ante up its international and round-the-clock eating and drinking options, the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians (the Tribe) has launched the fast-casual Malie Asian Kitchen and Kupi Shop at its Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, California. Overseen by new VP of food & beverage Dennis Khanh, these locations complement the highly popular Taproom (with its diverse bistro menu and onsite brewed beers), casino bars Whisky’s and Top Shelf (both offering libations from around the globe), and the Medjool Room (an exceptional event space for personal and corporate functions).

Kupi is the word for coffee among the Chemehuevi people. As coffee was introduced, it became a staple drink that gave them the energy to begin their day. The shop offers hot and cold-brewed espresso drinks, take-away food items including breakfast and deli sandwiches and salads, along with an array of on-premise-baked pastries, croissants, muffins, and sweet items. In the spirit of local sourcing, its coffee products are supplied by the region’s premier coffee roasters, Joshua Tree Coffee. Kupi will be open 24-7 to serve casino patrons.

Malie Asian Kitchen provides a new fast-casual dining experience, bringing some of the most authentic Asian cuisines to the region with a diverse array of poke bowls (prepared and build-your-own) along with a ramen bar highlighted by the freshest Asian ingredients available. The menu will be expanding its offerings this June to include additional noodle dishes, dumplings, and more. Beer and wine are also available, along with Vietnamese iced coffee, Thai iced tea, and boba. Malie Asian Kitchen will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Overseeing Spotlight 29’s food and beverage program as vice president is Dennis Khanh, a hospitality veteran with five decades of experience. He segues to Spotlight 29 following the same role with Viejas Casino Resort in Alpine, California, and executive F&B roles with Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York, Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, and Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and The Mirage in Las Vegas. He began his food and beverage career at Hilton Hotels.

While looking internationally with Maille Asian Kitchen, Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians Chairman Darrell Mike explains that Spotlight 29 also embraces its heritage through the traditional naming of Kupi. “The Chemehuevi language is one of the most critically endangered languages in the world, with only a few dozen native speakers, and we are proud to incorporate it into our new coffee shop in signaling a revitalization of our Tribe’s legacy and at once forging a cultural connection with the world.”

He further offered, “Under the guidance of our new VP of food and beverage Dennis Khanh, we could not be more excited to add these new dining experiences for our Casino guests. With the Taproom, Whisky’s, Top Shelf, and now Malie Asian Kitchen and Kupi, we hope to continue to grow our dining options, delivering exceptional cuisine to our new and loyal customers.”

This press release was produced by Spotlight 29 Casino. The views expressed here are the author's own.