You know I love to cook.
And you know I love my Cuban food.
But you have to realize that I'm also just a Suburban Mom most days.
And sometimes I do get supremely tired of schlepping (in Spanish, I think "arrastrando" would be the comparable word) my kids to classes and practices and friend-outings and all that.
For someone who homeschools, lately it feels like I've been spending a lot of time in the minivan.
So what do we do in the Darby household when we're running late and Mami doesn't feel like cooking?
Fast food? McD's? (A shudder just went through my entire body.)
Ah, but we here in the southwest have a not-so-secret-alternative to regular fast food:
The Legendary In-N-Out Burger. (Insert angelic choir here.)
Available only in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah - sorry, Rest of the Country!
Their fries are made with real potatoes. They use only the freshest produce. There is nothing (nothing!) like a freshly made In-N-Out Burger. (Can I get an "Amen?")
If you're traveling anywhere in the Southwest, please do yourself a favor and just eat there. I mean it. Put it on your Bucket List as something to do at least once in your lifetime. At this point in my post I'm wishing I was somehow getting paid for this glowing endorsement, but that's not important right now.
And if you Know Stuff because, like me, you've been eating at In-N-Out these past 30 years, you will know what to order from their Not-So-Secret Menu.
You're wondering what this has to do with anything involving my big, fat, Cuban family, aren't you? Well, we always stop at the In-N-Out in Barstow whenever we drive to Vegas, it has seriously become part of our driving-to-Vegas tradition. (Barstow is at about the halfway point between Mission Viejo and Las Vegas, but that's not important right now, either.)
It turns out that In-N-Out is celebrating their 60th anniversary and no, they haven't lowered their prices – it turns out that that was just a rumor – but because we celebrate everything else, we're going to In-N-Out for dinner tonight to celebrate their 60 Years of Awesomeness.
Which means that not only is Mami not cooking…
It further means that Eric can have his "Double-Double, Animal Style, with Extra Grilled Onions and Crispy Fries."
And we will actually clap, and possibly jump to our feet, when they bring out our food.
You know us… any chance to celebrate. =D
Hey, we are eating there today too! Planned it as soon as I heard it was there anniversary…and yes, even knowing the cheap prices were a rumor. Let’s face it…it is pretty cheap anyway and the food is SO STINKIN GOOD!!! Extra grilled onions, yes, animal style, no, protein style, yes (not that I am on any sort of diet–I just love biting into the yummy burger between pieces of crisp lettuce…YUM!!!
We’ve only been once to an In-N-Out Burger. It was at Fisherman’s Warf in San Francisco around three years ago. Our friends that lived in Cali suggested we go. You are so right, it is delicious!!!! I wish we had an In-N-Out Burger place here in Miami!!! I guess that’s one of the wonderful perks of going out West. 😉
We are very lucky to have IN-N-OUT! It is an awesome burger. It’s unfortunate that the locations are so limited…most people have no idea how good it is!
Sorry Marta. Went to Fat Burger today. But I do love In-N-Out!!!
I have such fond memories of In-N-Out Burger. I remember, when my dad was in Vietnam, going (driving through) with my mom at an In-N-Out. We would usually go out on pay day. The man working there was so nice, he would always give us free fries. Anyway, just another reason why Hanford will never be a real city. No In-N-Out. We have to go all the way to Visalia! (20 minutes!) Or, I think there is one in Kettleman City…but have you heard of Erin Brockovich? (there is toxic waste management there) Anyway, thanks for the post! I loved it!
This Miami girl LOVES In-n-Out. It is literally the first & last stop on every West Coast trip. Hence the name, In-n-Out! 🙂 Actually, we arrive in Vegas Monday night at 10:30 PM and will go directly there from the airport!
Lissete,The one on Dean Martin Drive? Behind New York, New York??
(whoa… that was a BIG over-share for me…)
=D
I want to come too! Yummmmy. We love In and Out…and their prices are great even without the urban legend. Well done Animal fries and a cheeseburger with grilled onions.
Wow that looks yummy! Darn Michigan!
Kristen,FYI – We ate at the one around the corner from your house – thought of you….
mario,
Seriously legendary burger. Make a point of it if you get to the Left Coast.
Besos,
Marta