David Ertmann, of downtown Petaluma’s BlendCraft, is a huge supporter of dates — both the fruit kind and the Valentine kind. His “The First Date” smoothie blends sweet dates with low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt, almond milk and fresh banana.
“We put our own twist on the classic Palm Springs date shake,” says Ertmann, who co-owns the cafe with his fiancée, Ashley Baker. “I think these might taste even better.”
In a nostalgic move, Ertmann, who grew up visiting the Hadley Date Gardens near Palm Springs with his brothers, sources Medjool dates from the original Hadley family orchards in the Morongo Valley. The cold, creamy shakes have proven popular.
“We imagine couples coming in and sharing a shake,” says Baker. “I don’t know for sure if any first dates have happened over a date shake here, but I keep hoping it will happen eventually.”
BlendCraft Smoothie Co., 3 Fourth St., Petaluma. 707-242-6024, blendcraft.com
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