Date shake
 |
 | |
| Course | Beverage |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Coachella Valley |
| Created by | Russ Nicholl |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Dates, ice cream |
| Variations | Fresh, sugar crystal |
The date shake is a milkshake primarily flavored with dates. It became one of the iconic symbols of Palm Springs and surrounding desert in Southern California.[1][2]
Origins
In 1928, Russ Nichol[3] and his family built a roadside shack near Thermal, California. A few years later, this shack was expanded and named Valerie Jean after Russ' daughter. With electricity and refrigeration, the Nichols were able to offer the malt and milkshake combinations blended with their supply of dates.[4]
They are a popular drink at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival.[5]
References
- ^ Stern, Jane (2009). 500 Things to Eat Before it's too Late. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-547-05907-8.
- ^ Date Shakes in the Coachella Valley
- ^ "Indio's Date With Destiny". LA Times, 4 December 1990
- ^ Date Shake Recipe. Saveur.com
- ^ https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/indio/2019/02/15/riverside-county-fair-and-national-date-festival-opens-indio/2884499002/
- "Roadside Date Shop on the Desert". Desert Magazine: 13–15. August 1938.