Palm Springs restaurant recognized through its commitment to warm, genuine hospitality and exceptional guest experiences
PALM SPRINGS, CA — Freddie’s Kitchen at The Cole is celebrating a special honor as longtime hospitality professional and team member Marco Castillo has been named a 2026 Champion of Hospitality by Visit Greater Palm Springs.
Castillo received the Hospitality Champion Award in the Restaurant | Bar Champion – Front of House category at the annual Champions of Hospitality Awards, held October 29 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa.
Selected as part of a regional celebration of hospitality excellence that attracted nearly 250 nominations, Castillo’s recognition shines a spotlight on the people who make the Greater Palm Springs dining experience memorable.
At Freddie’s Kitchen, a small, independently operated Palm Springs bistro, hospitality is personal. Guests come for Chef Frederic Pierrel’s French-California cuisine, but it is the combination of thoughtful food, attentive service, and genuine connection that brings the restaurant to life.
“Marco represents what hospitality means to us,” said Chef Frederic Pierrel, owner and chef of Freddie’s Kitchen at the Cole. “Great food is only part of a wonderful evening. Making people feel genuinely welcome, comfortable, and cared for is just as important. We are incredibly proud to see Marco recognized for the heart he brings to our dining room.”
For Freddie’s Kitchen, the award is especially meaningful because it celebrates the human side of the restaurant experience and the people who turn an evening out into a reason to return.
The Champions of Hospitality Awards, presented by Visit Greater Palm Springs, recognize outstanding individuals and organizations whose dedication strengthens the region’s hospitality industry and enriches the visitor experience.
###
About Freddie’s Kitchen at The Cole
Located in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District, Freddie’s Kitchen at The Cole Hotel is an intimate, chef-owned bistro featuring French-California cuisine with global influences. Led by classically trained French chef Frederic Pierrel, the restaurant pairs seasonal ingredients and thoughtful preparation with an inviting, relaxed atmosphere where food, conversation, and hospitality come together.
Restaurant Information
Freddie’s Kitchen at The Cole
2323 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262
www.FreddiesKitchenAtTheCole.com
Photos and interviews available upon request.
For more information, visit freddieskitchenatthecole.com and @freddieskitchenatthecole on Facebook and Instagram.
