Gastro Chic

4/27/2007

Decoding the In-N-Out Burger

Last but not least, no trip to LA would be complete without a trip to In-N-Out Burger. It was all I could do to restrain myself from getting one at the airport the second I deplaned. I waited to try this In-N-Out on Sunset.

Ah, the glamour! At least the red-and-white interior is clean and vaguely cheerful.

Dude ahead of me ordered a couple of the "Double-Double" - two double cheeseburgers. Now that's a meal. I would have photographed the menu for you, but at this point the manager asked me to stop taking pictures. Notably, In-N-Out Burger was the only place in LA other than Fred Segal that banned photography.

Here it is: the Holy Grail of burgers.

Yes, it lives up to its rap, but not in the way you'd think. The burger itself is good, but it's the whole package that wows. The lettuce, tomato, and onion are much fresher, crisper, and more voluminous than their East Coast counterparts. The soft, lightly griddled bun has a great hand-feel and sticks with the burger instead of sliding around or falling apart. I didn't detect anything wildly special about the special sauce.

So what's the secret? The onion. When you order an In-N-Out burger, always get it with onion when the counter person asks. It's not the harsh-tasting yellow onion you might expect, but a thick slice of crunchy, faintly sweet white onion. If you cook, you know that there is a huge difference between different types of onions. White onions are the mildest and the best choice in raw preparations like guacamole. It's the white onion's delicate, sweet taste that sets the In-N-Out burger apart.

Some people are wild about the fries, but I thought they were only OK. For one thing, they weren't hot enough.

But the burger reigns supreme in the fast food category. Will we ever be able to replicate In-N-Out's magic here in New York? Unfortunately, even with the exact combination of ingredients, it's unlikely that we'd ever reach the same caliber of California freshness.

In-N-Out Burger

7009 W. Sunset Boulevard, between Highland and La Brea
800-786-1000

and many other locations, found here

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TomTom

A microwave. A cellphone. A Blackberry. Sometimes a device can change your life. TomTom is one of those devices.

This portable GPS system was recommended to me by a friend before I left for LA. For a trip dedicated to finding random eateries in strip malls, it's an invaluable tool - especially for a New Yorker who experiences a sort of disorienting agoraphobia outside Manhattan. GPS systems are nothing new, but this portable device is great for rental cars and has much more sophisticated features than built-in GPS systems. Just stick it on the windshield, and TomTom will detect where you are. Program in an address, and TomTom will direct you there with clear-cut color graphics and the voice of your choosing - a lady with an American accent, say, or a British dude.

Unlike Mapquest, TomTom actually tells you the best, most convenient way to get from A to B, taking into account travel time, the fastest routes - even traffic. It avoids snaking two-lane roads through mountains and farmland. (That was really helpful in Colorado - thanks, Mapquest...) If you're a stranger in a strange land - in the U.S. or even Europe - you can even do a search, Google Maps-style, for "coffee" and find the nearest cafe. Or, if you know there's a Target around somewhere, type in "Target," and TomTom will find it.

As with the iPod, sometimes you don't have to look far to find the next "killer app" in technology. This time, it's right on the dash.

TomTom ONE
$299

just released:
TomTom ONE XL
new features: larger screen, real-time traffic services
$399

available at Radio Shack, Staples, and the Sharper Image

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4/26/2007

LA Shops

How many times must we read about Fred Segal and Kitson in US Weekly before we get one or two of our own in New York? Here are a few shots of the interiors of these stores and more.

the shoe shop at Fred Segal

A wall of Miss Davenporte. At this point I was asked to stop taking photos. As for the rest of the store: the selection ranges from very casual to very luxe, and it's extremely well edited. Fred Segal has all the key brands, but they carry only the best looks of each.

Fred Segal
8118 Melrose Avenue, between La Cienega and Fairfax
West Hollywood
(323) 655-3734

the Alessi store on Robertson

These are toothpick holders.

Alessi

8801 Beverly Boulevard at Robertson

(310) 276-7096

the center of the universe?

flip flop mania at Kitson

more flip flops

Kitson is the Urban Outfitters to Fred Segal's Anthropologie - a little younger, a little less discriminating, a little more fun.

bin o' flip flops

Kitson loves New York.

enameled fruity baubles

Kitson
115 S. Robertson Boulevard, between Beverly and Burton
310-859-2652

Obsolete in Venice was my favorite of all the L.A. stores visited. As Mon Ami put it, they have a very consistent aesthetic. It's creepy and appealing all at once.

"Nomadic Worlds" exhibit by photographer Karl Doyle