New chef infuses 'One 11' with refreshed menu

or restaurants to survive these days, they have to be willing to shake things up once in a while.

Such is the case with Fusion One 11 on the north side of Highway 111 between San Luis Rey and Portola Avenue in Palm Desert. If you haven't visited this little eatery in a while, you're in for a big surprise.

Brothers Rob and Scott Wilson opened this cozy and intimate establishment in 2005. In the past, it focused on "small plate meals" designed to share with friends. But full-course entrees have been added to the menu.

New Sous Chef Mitch Gray has been brought on board to assist with this wonderful transformation, and more new menu items are expected in January.

One of the new dishes is a sautee of sea scallops with applewood smoked bacon, portabello mushrooms, sweet peas and Roma tomatoes combined in a wonderful light cream sauce. This delicious combination is then tossed with penne pasta and asiago cheese ($26). Those of you craving comfort food can forget your troubles once you taste the 8-ounce Cajun bourbon marinated pork loin served over roasted garlic mashed potatoes and topped with a whole grain mustard remoulade ($22). It's a guarantee you will savor every bite. In addition, all new entrée selections now include seasonal vegetables.

Several of the entrée selections were served in small portions for sharing but now have been modified. The roasted breast of duckling is still accompanied with some of the best garlic mashed potatoes around but is now finished with a smoked gouda cream ($23).

Seafood lovers will be in heaven when they taste the Cajun bronzed salmon delicately layered over a bed of rice pilaf and finished with lump crab, baby spinach and goat cheese.

Fusion has also expanded its wine list, and many are served by the glass. Find selections from such well known vineyards as Cakebread, Guenoc, Stags' Leap, Chateau St. Cosme and Clos Du Bois. But, Fusion is known for its amazing martini menu which features more than 25 choices.

To toast the New Year, try the Fusion Cosmo made with Absolut Citron, triple sec, cranberry juice and fresh squeezed lime. For those of you who had a tough 2008 and thought 2009 would never get here, have two.

Be sure to stay for dessert and savor Fusion's new Parfait of the Day ($9) with a cup of coffee.

Fusion serves amazing food, and its attention to detail is unsurpassed. Reservations are highly recommended since the eatery has only 50 seats.

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