June 2016 UPDATE: Sad to report that Hadley’s has replaced its quaint authentic shop with a new modern building. I’m keeping this post up here for posterity, but removing the map link since it is has lost its authentic vintage charm. 🙁
From our February 2014 visit:
Don’t you just love visiting someplace new and finding a foodstuff that is only popular in that area? Mod B is a big fan of these regional treats, so that’s why we stopped at Hadley’s Orchard in Cabazon CA for a DATE SHAKE!
Date Shake? Is that some sort of courting ritual, you may ask?
Nope, what it is is chopped up bits of sweet California dates mixed with vanilla ice cream, resulting in a frosty treat found nowhere else besides the Coachella Valley.
The Hadley Fruit Orchard shop is a handy place to get your date shake fix, as it’s right off of Route 10 in Cabazon, CA. Don’t be discouraged when you can’t see it directly from the road, as it is now hidden behind chain restaurants (kinda like their Retro Roadneighbors the Cabazon Dinosaurs the next exit down), but after that generic architecture the cheery yellow and green building is a welcomed sight.
As you can see from the photo below, “The Hadley Family has been growing fine California fruits since 1889”
While Hadley’s has been in the fruit growing business for over 100 years, their roadside shop is also a bit of a tourist stop (which I love!) selling all sorts of souvenirs, sandwiches, packaged foods {which make great hostess gifts!}, gimcracks, tschotskes, gewgaws and more. Retro Roadhusband and I spent some silly moments trying on some of the hats they had for sale – “I’ve Got You Babe” was on the background music and I swear I felt like we were in one of those, Cute Date Montages from a Romantic Comedy- in a good way!
But of course, even if you’re not into that kitsch you can still head over to the lunch counter, place your order, and voila – within moments you’ll be picking up your date at the date shake pickup stand.
We split one large shake with two straws, since we were on a date of course. The shake was thick and creamy, with the bits of date imparting an extra sweetness and some chewy bits throughout. While I would not make a diet of them, it was a tasty treat on a hot day.
Adding another stamp to our “Regional Food Passport” was a nice reminder that roadfood doesn’t have to be the same thing across the country.
Try one for yourself and let me know what you think!
Add a comment