a color story: in and out burger

It could be the unavoidable transportation stress of 8 hours or the high heat, I needed food as a comforting agent. The options seemed many and few — a Chick-Fil-A, P. Terry’s, and Cane’s in walking proximity. Again, this was going to be my first meal in a new city. I shouldn’t go try something convenient that fast-food chains based their models on. From my virtual exposure to the city, I directed my focus on their BBQ. Then there, I must attend to. Original Black’s was one of the top three according to the virtual world. Then there, I must attend to.

I felt safe on the Guadalupe road which edged the state university campus. A bunch of street food or should I say student food stationed along the road. But convenience wasn’t what I was looking for. I wanted Austin in a food shell. Finally, out of the realms and mindfully saying no to the convenience, it seemed like the easy food pull of the campus was out of my sight. Once I hit the north endpoint, I saw a nice bright red sign in the corner of my eyelid. It wasn’t Mcdonald's. It wasn’t Wendies. It wasn’t a Tim Hortons. It was an In and Out. I couldn’t believe it. On my South Beach trip, I made a Shake Shack trip for the first time. But, never the famous “In and Out” that Anthony Bourdain vouched for when he made visits to LA.

I caved. Then there, I must attend to.

The doors opened wide.

At the front, I quickly claimed that it was my first time. With a jolt of youthful excitement or like a kid in a candy store, I expressed a raw natural excitement with an extra shine in my eyes. Could excitement be found in the bright red and white tiles of their interior? If excitement had a color, would it be expressed in that fashion (pictured)? I didn’t know a brand could swing my emotions — from tired and stressed to ‘this is why people travel’. Their team even welcomed me with an ‘In and Out’ sticker. I deserved such childish treatment. But it didn’t matter. This was my first ‘In and Out’ — Austin could wait for the meantime. I only ordered the double cheeseburger without the fries and shake. I had to change my priorities on the BBQ. The In and Out burger was perceived as an appetizer. The total was less than $5 — much less than I expected for such a premium brand.

Unfortunately, the burger over-delivered even with my high expectations. The medium of the burger made a nostalgic comparison to my first fascination with a burger back at home. Yes, you heard it. The In and Out made me think of home and nostalgia- I just got out of Toronto. 

Back when I was in high school, I rode my bicycle all the way down on the Don Valley Trail to Woodbine beach. Not by media, or the newspaper, just through my observation of a lineup at a small burger store caught my attention of the first Burger’s Priest in Toronto. The simplicity of the burger elevated what a burger could be. I might even add that it opened the world of the culinary universe. 

How dare you, In and Out burger for entering that precious memory of mine without permission? Of course, I say this with the highest regard and compliments. Maybe you should have warned me before overdelivering on your burger promise.

At my original food destination, Original Black’s, my mind and stomach was already occupied by the red and white. The brisket was tender and delicious — whatever. But, I didn’t grow up eating great BBQ. It just doesn’t hit my nostalgic notes.

I walked back to the hotel with meat sweats under the humid weather. Then, a cold shower proceeded with a cup of ice and coconut water. I shared pictures of both the In and Out burger and the BBQ on the family’s KakaoTalk group chat. And even shared a message that I was ready to go back to Toronto already. 

Then there, I must attend to. Just kidding, of course…