Cafe at Sheilds in Indigo, CA

​Lunch at the Date Garden

At the end of this past April, Don and I were headed for Palm Springs. 

We timed it so we could have a late lunch at the iconic Shields Date Garden, in Indigo.

Roadside

Don and I knew all about date palms and date shakes, from when we lived in southern California in the '80s. We had our favorite roadside date shacks. None had grand signs like this one.

We'd heard great things about the iconic place on Highway 111, just 20 miles from Palm Springs. But we'd never been.

Summer of 2020

5 years ago, Don and I were making the same TX to CA trip, when we detoured to check out the giant knight, pointing towards the old white building.

The fancy sign and the building came to the property in 1953. That was 29 years after the company was founded by Floyd and Bess Sheilds.

Curbside

Back in 2020 Don and I were craving a date shake, during our pandemic roadtrip! We threw on our masks before heading in. That's when we noticed parking spots, for Curbside Delivery. The nearly 100-year-old date farm biz, was clearly adjusting to 2020 pandemic practices.

But the shop was open and we were dying to peek at the inside. We headed inside to place an order to go.

Counter Seating

I could picture folks in the '50s sitting on those stools, sipping date shakes. 

The stools were off limits for health reasons, but the date shake makers were at work!

Unofficial Drink of Coachella Valley

We actually just ordered a large to share! This fabulously sweet concoction has been popular in the area since the 1920s. Shields' shakes are different than some. They use date crystals, which are dried date particles, sweetened with date sugar. A paste of crystals and water is then blended with other ingredients to make an insanely sweet beverage! 

Sipping this thick, nearly chewy drink brought back memories. I didn't feel a bit guilty about the calories...

The drink is high in fiber, potassium, iron and niacin! ​Cheers to that!

Return in 2025

This past April, Don and I took the same route from TX to CA!

Once again we pulled up on a sunny blue day, to the old white building. This time we were coming for more than a shake.

​Shopping?

​They do have a lot of merchandise! We could have.

I regret not buying a can of date sugar, sold in containers that look like cans of paint.

But it was expensive and I'm honestly not sure what I'd do with it.

History?

Yes we did come for a bit of history. It's intriguing to picture Sheilds Date Palm Orchard back in the '20s, when the whole date industry was new.

These displayed  photos were pretty fun. I've seen sugar coated dates in boxes. I've seen date palms...  ​

But these 2 photos reminded me of what dates actually look like, on the palm or after being picked.

Romance?

​No, we were not stopping by for romance. 

But I remembered being amused by this vintage poster 5 years ago. On this visit, we had more freedom to peek around and see what this place was all about.

​"Romance & Sex Life of the Date"

In the back of the big shop, I found an amusing sign above 2 wooden doors.  

There was a glow and muffled sound beyond those doors. The little theatre was sure enough showing a film to any folks who had a few minutes to be educated about this sexy date business!

Evidently Floyd was pretty proud of his work with dates. He bred a number of his own hybrids and varieties, including the "Blonde" and "Brunette" varieties. To help promote his exotic and complicated fruit, he began presenting lectures to his customers... then came a slide show and then a 39-page booklet! Today visitors can enjoy a modified presentation in the funny little theatre. Sadly we did not have time. 

​Dash to Lunch

I was sorry to miss the show, but lunch was only served until 2.

We headed outside to the walkway, that took us beside the grand date palms, back to the dining patio. 

Inside Cafe

A small building held some booths and tables for inside dining.  

It might have been a good option on a hot or rainy day. But it was a beautiful April day.
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Dining Patio

Don and I were excited to dine on the spacious patio.

There were many tables beneath a large canopy.

But we (and others) were drawn to the tables that were shaded by date palms... 

... and colorful umbrellas.

I was sort of delighted about our chairs, with palms on the back!

I loved the casual formality. A whirling fan kept flies away. Tablecloths and cloth napkins made us feel a little classy.

We ordered a date palm shake right away. (When in Rome) and studied the menu.

Dining at Sheilds' wasn't an option back in the '20s or 50's or even '90s. The cafe has only been serving food for about 15 years.

"Date Me Omelet"

How could I resist ordering a meal, with a name like this?

Red bell pepper, bacon, ham, onions, feta cheese and deglet noor dates! 

Honestly it was just amazing! I wouldn't have ordered an omelet. That's more of a Don thing. But I was giddy over every sweet and savory bite. Who would have guessed dates and eggs could taste so yummy?

Don went with crab cakes, served on a bed of greens. We both enjoyed our meals and our server. Afraid I did not catch his name, but he was as nice as can be.

"The Walk at Sheilds"

After finishing lunch, our server encouraged us to enjoy the garden pathways behind the patio. We were a bit surprised to learn there was something else to enjoy on the property, besides date palms. 23 biblical statues to be specific. They moved to Shields in 2012, to create a biblical garden! Hmmm?

A biblical garden sort of sounds like something Floyd and Betty might have been up for back in the day. They had some gimmicks after all. But Sheilds Company changed hands some years ago and the business changed. The dates no longer come from the palms that surround the sweet white buildings. The 17-acre property is now a garden with paths. But who added the biblical part?

Well, the statues came from Canada. William and Lillian Vanderzalm owned a biblical garden in Vancouver and they needed a home for their statues when they sold their property. The statues were welcomed at Sheilds, just over a decade ago. Pretty sure there must be more to this story.

We had a nice and a curious time, walking in the orchard, all to ourselves. I think I worked off a fraction of the date shake calories!
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