Firbaugh (I-5): The Apricot Tree - The apricot shake still remains the only great thing here ... but it is FABULOUS

[rworange]

I haven't been to the Apricot Tree for at least six years and not a thing has changed from this visit. The four starts are for the shake only.

I-5 - The best fresh apricot shake
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/84928

They have added apricot muffins since then. While these are better than the rest of the baked goods, though they are made in-house they have that supermarket muffin texture. Nice touch that they come with Dickenson's apricot jam.

The staff is always helpful and friendly.

Having eaten out quite a bit more over the years. If I had to choose something to eat other than the shake, I might go for the hamurger since they go to trouble to define rare to well-done on the menu.

For breakfast I might go for the pancakes, waffles or French toast with thier apricots.

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Apricot Tree Restaurant Interstate
5 Panoche Rd, Firebaugh, CA 93622

[Stephanie Wong]

Tried the apricot milk shake last month. Had one to drink on my drive to Fresno (lunch) and put a second shake in the cooler for my apricot-loving friend in Fresno -- $4.25 each and delish -- she loved it!

Was using a straw while driving between Apricot Tree (located on the west side of the Panoche/I-5 interchange) and Fresno. Couldn't understand why it was so hard to suck up -- turned out there were about 5 or 6 apricot halves at the bottom of the cup blocking the straw.

[PolarBear]

Beware, Google maps places the address given (5 Panoche Rd) roughly 3 miles west of I-5, basically in the "middle of nowhere". Address should read:

46272 West Panoche Road which is the NW corner of I-5 and Panoche Rd.

[Melanie Wong]

The shake sounds great. So "fresh" apricot shake is available year-round?

[rworange]

They start out fresh. The restaurant cans fresh apricots for use all year.

[glbtrtr]

Pray tell, what else could they start out as. Melanie is right, they cannot have "fresh" apricots year round. In fact, there is a very short season for fresh apricots.

However, that being said canned apricots, particularly home canned apricots, can provide a delicious flavor but like most canned fruit not even close to the original flavor. Apricot jams rarely come close to a reasonably proximate fresh apricot flavor, unless they too are home canned.

This conflict obviously can only be resolved by a few of us stopping there and trying them at various times of the coming and brief apricot season.

[rworange]

Ok, it being Melanie, I was taking the high road and not saying to read the original link which puts the words "fresh" in quotes. I was guessing she MAY have read the OP from 2002 and could have been trying to clarify. I'm on the road 12 hours a day after a grueling month of packing up my stuff and moving to Central America. \

I write these reports after a long day of driving where there aren't even prarie dogs out there because I'll forget in 2 - 3 weeks. The most wildlife action I've seen is a vulture eating a skunk ... which must prove vultures have nno sense of smell.

So I am not as clear as I might be.

The bottom line is they are delicious shakes. The menu lists them as fresh and theny explains. I'm going with the flow here.

[glbtrtr]

Good point, Melanie. ;-)

[glbtrtr]

Driven past this dozens of time but never stopped. Thanks for giving us a reason. Apricot is an under appreciated flavor here, but not in Europe where along with raspberry it is a classic standard. Looking forward to validating your recommendation.