What Was Dinah Shore Serving in Palm Springs?
More than just tennis and golf…
We tested her crispy deep-fried mozzarella appetizer recipe from 1979.
Published: May 20, 2026Palm Springs in the late 1970s was all about sunshine, tennis, golf, cocktails, celebrity dinner parties, and easy entertaining with a little glamour mixed in.
And nobody captured that desert hostess vibe quite like Dinah Shore.
Long before modern appetizer boards and trendy mozzarella sticks took over restaurant menus, Dinah was serving up crispy deep-fried mozzarella during her Palm Springs entertaining era.
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Blog Index:
1. 🍴 A Retro Bite of History
2. Frequently Asked Questions
3. Step by step instructions
4. Fun vintage serving tips
5. Retro shopping
6. Closing Words
🍴 A Retro Bite of History
Welcome to Dinah Shore’s Palm Springs
Dinah Shore and George Montgomery built their first desert home in 1952 located in the old Movie Colony neighborhood of Palm Springs.
Shore and Montgomery were longtime desert residents. They were members of the Racquet Club and avid tennis players. They divorced in 1962.
Source: Explore Palm Springs
After their divorce in 1962, Dinah commissioned architect Donald Wexler to design her famous mid-century estate at 432 Hermosa Place in Old Las Palmas. Construction was completed in 1964.
The actor Leonard DiCaprio bought the Shore House on 02/24/2014 for $5,230,000. The house sold previously in 2012 for $4.9 million.
The house is available for short-term rental. It has the following amenities: a gated service entrance, heated pool and spa, tennis court and a one-bedroom guest house.
Source: PCAD
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I freeze the mozzarella before frying?
During testing, the frozen mozzarella cubes held their shape much better while frying. The unfrozen cheese melted too quickly and often leaked out of the breading before the coating became crispy.
Can I use string cheese for this recipe?
Yes! String cheese worked surprisingly well for this retro recipe and gives you evenly sized pieces that are easy to bread and fry. Cutting the cheese into small cubes instead of long sticks also helped prevent blowouts during frying.
Why did my mozzarella sticks burst open while frying?
This usually happens when the cheese gets hot faster than the breading can crisp up. Freezing the cheese first and using smaller mozzarella cubes instead of full sticks gave the best results during testing.
Gallery featuring crispy deep-fried mozzarella bites served with marinara sauce in retro-style appetizer settings inspired by 1970s Palm Springs entertaining
Step by step instructions
Step-by-step gallery showing mozzarella string cheese cut into cubes, coated in seasoned breadcrumbs, and prepared for frying for a retro deep-fried mozzarella recipe.✦ Deep Fried Mozzarella
Era: 1970s Palm Springs Entertaining
Cuisine: American • Retro Appetizers • Celebrity Recipes
Prep Time: 15 minutes + 2 hour freezing time
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Servings: 2-4 appetizer servings
Ingredients
Oil for frying
1 thick slice mozzarella cheese or string cheese 6-8
1 egg, beaten with a splash of water or milk
1 Cup Flour
1 Cup Seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
Prepared tomato or marinara sauce
Parsley, optional
✦Vintage by the Bite Testing Notes
The original recipe calls for thick slices of mozzarella cheese, but during testing I found that cutting mozzarella sticks or string cheese into 1-inch cubes worked much better for frying.
I also tested the cheese both frozen and unfrozen. The frozen mozzarella held its shape far better while frying and helped prevent the cheese from melting too quickly into the oil.
Instructions
Cut mozzarella or sticks into 1-inch cubes or thick slices.
Freeze the cheese pieces for about 2 hours before frying for best results.
Dip the mozzarella into flour, then egg, then seasoned breadcrumbs.
Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
Carefully place the breaded mozzarella into the hot oil.
Fry until golden brown, turning carefully since the cheese browns quickly.
Remove from the oil and drain briefly on paper towels.
Serve immediately with warm tomato or marinara sauce.
Garnish with parsley and parmesan if desired.
Recipe Notes
During testing, unfrozen mozzarella sticks melted much faster and often burst open while frying. Smaller frozen mozzarella cubes produced the crispiest and most reliable results.
✦ Original Recipe ✦
adapted, authentic, tested recipe(Tip: Be sure to select the exact page you want to print — otherwise it may print the whole post!)
Did You Know?
Dinah Shore wasn’t just known for television and Palm Springs entertaining - she also published several cookbooks centered around home cooking and celebrity-style hospitality.
Her cookbook Someone’s in the Kitchen With Dinah was released in 1971 and reflected the relaxed entertaining style of the era.
She later published The Dinah Shore Cookbook in 1983, followed by The Dinah Shore American Kitchen in 1990.
Dinah’s recipes blended classic American comfort food with the polished dinner-party style that became closely associated with mid-century Palm Springs entertaining.
Historical details compiled from vintage cookbook references and entertainment history sources.
Fun vintage Palm Springs serving tips:
1. Poolside Cocktail Tray
Serve the crispy mozzarella bites in a retro plastic basket lined with colorful paper alongside tiny cups of warm marinara sauce. Add cocktail picks, frosty margaritas, and striped napkins for that late-1970s Palm Springs patio vibe.
2. Country Club Appetizer Spread
Pair the mozzarella with stuffed olives, shrimp cocktail, salted nuts, and a small relish tray on a large vintage serving platter. This setup feels straight out of a Palm Springs tennis party during Dinah Shore’s entertaining era.
3. Retro Supper Club Style
Serve the mozzarella on a warm platter sprinkled with parmesan and parsley beside low candlelight, martinis, and easy listening music. Add a bowl of marinara in the center for a cozy old Hollywood appetizer hour feel.
🛒 Retro Shopping
Available om Amazon: Palm Springs California Vintage 70s Palm Trees Graphic T-Shirt
Available on Amazon: Palm Springs California C Travel Poster Tin Sign Metal Vintage Poster Chic Art Retro Iron Painting
Closing Words
Dinah Shore’s crispy deep-fried mozzarella still feels comforting, fun, and surprisingly timeless today and very easy to make.
This Dinah Shore Original 1979 recipe from my personal vintage cookbook collection. - Archive Recipe
📌A curated collection of tested vintage Palm Springs recipes, lost restaurant favorites, and celebrity-era classics. Lost Palm Springs
(Gallery featuring a frozen margarita with chips and tacos alongside a retro sweet-and-sour style appetizer dish inspired by 1970s Palm Springs entertaining and cocktail party food.)
