Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:
A year ago I read that In-N-Out Burger was going to be opening FIVE locations around Miami in 2014. After that I heard not even a single peep more about this story. Was it some elaborate hoax? Would people really be that cruel to taunt me with the dream of In-N-Out Burger on the East Coast and a mere 4.5 hour drive away from me? Oh cruel, cruel world.
When I recently went to Los Angeles in March 2014, I decided that I better get an In-N-Out burger while I could. Who knows if/when there will ever be one in Florida?
I went to the In-N-Out Burger on Sunset Drive in Hollywood. This was my "local" In-N-Out Burger from when I used to live in California. I remember one time going to this particular In-N-Out Burger location after the Grammy Awards. It was basically a who's who of the music industry scarfing down cheeseburgers in tuxedos and formal dresses. For a young 20something like I was at the time, it was pretty darn awesome with a side of French fries.
The last time I had an In-N-Out burger was in early 2011. I was working in Santa Clara, California for a week. I was severely burned out at my then current job role and I was trying to motivate an employee who was slower than a turtle with four broken legs. I was so filled with anger and frustration that I was afraid I might hurt someone. Instead I bit my tongue and seethed with white hot fury.
After several days of this work situation, I had to release some steam. I ended up at the In-N-Out Burger. A cheeseburger, French fries and a diet Coke with no one around me annoying me. It seriously felt like heaven. I then went next door to the movie theater and saw "Country Strong." Don't judge me!
Somehow the combination of red meat, fat, secret sauce and Gwyneth Paltrow as a country music singing self-destructive addict was what I needed to release all my stress. I actually left the theater happy and hopeful. Until the next day at work that is.
When I was in Los Angeles a month ago, I went back to my favorite In-N-Out Burger on Sunset. It was late at night and fully packed with people. I wanted a chocolate milkshake with my burger and fries, but Los Angeles chain restaurants post their calorie counts on their menus. One quick calculation of how many calories a cheeseburger, fries AND a chocolate milkshake would be and it was "goodbye milkshake."
While I waited for my order, I stood over a girl who had found a small perch to eat chili cheese fries in the packed restaurant. Good lord, how many calories were in that basket?
Maybe I need to stop thinking about calories while I am in a fast food restaurant!
My cheeseburger was everything delicious that I remembered. I don't know what it is about an In-N-Out Burger, but it is so simple and so good. (Side Note: If you are watching calories, get your burger without the fatty, caloric sauce. Or maybe get a salad somewhere else instead!)
While I love, love, love In-N-Out Burger cheeseburgers, I hate their French fries. They taste like freezer-burned, water logged, old potatoes. And here's the rub - I still order them … each and every time. I will eat 3 or 4 fries, make a face and say "I hate these!" But since I only go to In-N-Out Burger once every 3-6 years, I keep masochistically ordering them hoping they will change. Am I the only one who does not like their French fries? Pffft, I should have gotten a milkshake instead!
If In-N-Out Burger ever does come to Miami, I will be road tripping down there in a jiffy! Until then, I found that beloved Wisconsin chain Culver's with their butter burgers and frozen custard has opened about 100 miles south of me. I heard several will be opening in Orlando but I am desperately trying to forget I heard that because seriously I would drive an hour to Orlando for some cheese curds, root beer, artery-clogging butter burgers and turtle frozen custard sundaes.
(Side Note: ACK! Culver's is opening in Tampa Bay in June 2014! Well there goes my diet! Time to buy some stretchy pants!)
This latest time I went to In-N-Out Burger, there were no famous musicians eating cheeseburgers next to me. There was no "red meat and country tragedy movie" stress relief washing over me. There was just a girl (ok an elderly girl), her cheeseburger and some happiness. And it was fantastic!
A year ago I read that In-N-Out Burger was going to be opening FIVE locations around Miami in 2014. After that I heard not even a single peep more about this story. Was it some elaborate hoax? Would people really be that cruel to taunt me with the dream of In-N-Out Burger on the East Coast and a mere 4.5 hour drive away from me? Oh cruel, cruel world.
When I recently went to Los Angeles in March 2014, I decided that I better get an In-N-Out burger while I could. Who knows if/when there will ever be one in Florida?
I went to the In-N-Out Burger on Sunset Drive in Hollywood. This was my "local" In-N-Out Burger from when I used to live in California. I remember one time going to this particular In-N-Out Burger location after the Grammy Awards. It was basically a who's who of the music industry scarfing down cheeseburgers in tuxedos and formal dresses. For a young 20something like I was at the time, it was pretty darn awesome with a side of French fries.
The last time I had an In-N-Out burger was in early 2011. I was working in Santa Clara, California for a week. I was severely burned out at my then current job role and I was trying to motivate an employee who was slower than a turtle with four broken legs. I was so filled with anger and frustration that I was afraid I might hurt someone. Instead I bit my tongue and seethed with white hot fury.
After several days of this work situation, I had to release some steam. I ended up at the In-N-Out Burger. A cheeseburger, French fries and a diet Coke with no one around me annoying me. It seriously felt like heaven. I then went next door to the movie theater and saw "Country Strong." Don't judge me!
Somehow the combination of red meat, fat, secret sauce and Gwyneth Paltrow as a country music singing self-destructive addict was what I needed to release all my stress. I actually left the theater happy and hopeful. Until the next day at work that is.
When I was in Los Angeles a month ago, I went back to my favorite In-N-Out Burger on Sunset. It was late at night and fully packed with people. I wanted a chocolate milkshake with my burger and fries, but Los Angeles chain restaurants post their calorie counts on their menus. One quick calculation of how many calories a cheeseburger, fries AND a chocolate milkshake would be and it was "goodbye milkshake."
While I waited for my order, I stood over a girl who had found a small perch to eat chili cheese fries in the packed restaurant. Good lord, how many calories were in that basket?
Maybe I need to stop thinking about calories while I am in a fast food restaurant!
My cheeseburger was everything delicious that I remembered. I don't know what it is about an In-N-Out Burger, but it is so simple and so good. (Side Note: If you are watching calories, get your burger without the fatty, caloric sauce. Or maybe get a salad somewhere else instead!)
While I love, love, love In-N-Out Burger cheeseburgers, I hate their French fries. They taste like freezer-burned, water logged, old potatoes. And here's the rub - I still order them … each and every time. I will eat 3 or 4 fries, make a face and say "I hate these!" But since I only go to In-N-Out Burger once every 3-6 years, I keep masochistically ordering them hoping they will change. Am I the only one who does not like their French fries? Pffft, I should have gotten a milkshake instead!
If In-N-Out Burger ever does come to Miami, I will be road tripping down there in a jiffy! Until then, I found that beloved Wisconsin chain Culver's with their butter burgers and frozen custard has opened about 100 miles south of me. I heard several will be opening in Orlando but I am desperately trying to forget I heard that because seriously I would drive an hour to Orlando for some cheese curds, root beer, artery-clogging butter burgers and turtle frozen custard sundaes.
(Side Note: ACK! Culver's is opening in Tampa Bay in June 2014! Well there goes my diet! Time to buy some stretchy pants!)
This latest time I went to In-N-Out Burger, there were no famous musicians eating cheeseburgers next to me. There was no "red meat and country tragedy movie" stress relief washing over me. There was just a girl (ok an elderly girl), her cheeseburger and some happiness. And it was fantastic!
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