Date shake
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2009) |
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| 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.[1]
Origins
Dates and sheep-milk were an important Arabic foodstuff for hundreds of years.[2] Dates grew well in the low California desert, but were not a widespread American food.
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]
References
- ^ Stern, Jane (2009). 500 Things to Eat Before it's too Late. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-547-05907-8.
- ^ Arabic foods during the Middle Ages.
- ^ LA Times, "Indio's Date With Destiny"
- ^ Shake Recipe
- "Roadside Date Shop on the Desert". Desert Magazine: 13–15. August 1938.