- Date shake
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Date Shake 
Date ShakeOrigin Place of origin USA Region or state Coachella Valley Creator(s) Russ Nicholl Dish details Course served Beverage Serving temperature Cold Main ingredient(s) Date
Ice CreamVariations 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.
References
- ^ Stern, Jane (2009). 500 Things to Eat Before it's too Late. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0547059078.
- ^ Arabic foods during the Middle Ages.
- ^ LA Times, "Indio's Date With Destiny"
"Roadside Date Shop on the Desert". Desert Magazine: 13–15. August 1938.
Categories:- Cuisine of the Western United States
- California culture
- American beverages
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