Sphinx Ranch: Make a Date
By Susie Timm, Chief Operating Foodie
I’ve been coming to Scottsdale on vacation since 1980 (and I’ve lived here since 1992) and I’ve seen Sphinx Ranch and their alluring “Famous Date Shakes” sign so many times that I became desensitized.
However, after Ron Vance, their director of marketing was kind enough to invite me in for a date (ha!) my ice cream endeavors will never be the same again.
The ranch's cuteness makes it easy to find!
Christa Oyer and I dropped in on Vance a couple of weeks ago to get the inside scoop (what’s with my puns today?) on date shakes.
Ancient folklore (ok Wikipedia) said date shakes came from California in the late ‘20s.
The folks at Sphinx Ranch have been cranking them out for decades as well.
Sphinx ranch opened in 1951 and their location on Scottsdale Rd just south of Oak has been there since the early 1990’s.
They have a Medjool date grove outside of Yuma and another one near Gila Bend. They also source the rare “black sphinx” dates from a grove in the Arcadia district.
Vance came on a little over a year ago to help the owner revamp Sphinx’s image as just another place for dates and to help promote the massive amounts of delicious dried fruits, nuts and other treats they sell.
Gift platters of dates, chocolates, and other dried fruits
Sphinx has a very impressive collection of local Arizona Wines as well as honey, salsa and lots of other specialty treats. They can put together fabulous wine and gourmet food gift baskets.
A vast array of local deliciousness
They have a modest walk-in business and a mail order following.
Sphinx has been actively marketing their date shakes in Old Town Scottsdale during the height of tourist season. I like to think they’re “pushing” shakes sort of like cocaine. Well, that might be a bit overdramatic, but these shakes are highly addictive!
During the high season, Sphinx has been known to churn 40+ shakes/ day. Vance said he has customers who come in multiple times/week to get their fix.
At this point Christa and I were thinking, “Ok man, bring on these shakes! Less talk more action!”
Vance scooped out some low fat vanilla and paired it with fresh dates and milk. He whipped it into a frenzy in their blender and voila! The date shake.
Where it all happens...
Vance said, “Dates work really well in shakes; they are perfect for the summer heat!”
Upon trying the date shake, Christa was very exuberant in her amazement at how yummy it was!
She’s normally a “chocolate only” person, but Sphinx has made a believer out of her.
Her reaction to a date sans shake was “meh,” but in the milkshake it was AWESOME.
Cheers!
I was also a big fan. The texture reminded me of an Oreo shake and it was sweet, but not overpowering.
Good thing Sphinx Ranch is located about 5 minutes south of my office.
A few other date factoids you may not be aware of:
- Dates are a great source of dietary fiber.
- They have the highest concentration of polyphenols (antioxidants) among dried fruits.
- Dates are a perfect energy boosting snack.
- Dates are one of the best natural sources of potassium.
So the moral of this yummy tale is that date shakes are nutritious and that Christa and I are capable of rationalizing any behavior as healthy.
After trying their date shake, you'll want to hug the camel, too!
Get over to Sphinx, get yourself a shake. You’ll thank us later.
