photography by Jonathan Pobre
Being a native of Los Angeles, but currently living in New York City, I'm constantly asked to describe the difference between both cities.Interestingly enough, when being asked to contrast my west coast and east coast lives, the number one point of comparison is food. Food like fragrance, can often trigger memory. It also tends to give you an edible snapshot of what the local culture is like. So whenever I'm asked to compare the California king In-N-Out to the New York giant Shake Shack, I always refuse to deem one better than the other because they represent two entirely different things to me.
In-N-Out, for me, is pure nostalgia. It reminds me of my childhood. Red palms on a white ground, that's iconic. From that classic, laid back, retro look of each storefront to the bare simplicity of the menu, there is no way I could compare it to anything else. I used to look forward to back-to-school nights when my school (public school, btw) would treat everyone in attendance to those delicious little burgers. I'm reminded of when my friends and I fucked around at the Plant in Van Nuys, hit the arcade, and grabbed a bag filled with melty double-doubles to sneak into the theater. When my friends and I started driving and we'd go on day trips to the beach, we'd roll through the drive-thru before hitting the freeway."Are you eating in the car?," the cashier would ask. "Yes." You'd then take your order in a cardboard box w placemats to keep from spilling all that extra spread all over yourself. Even to this day, every time I visit, as soon as I land, I make sure to pick up a mustard fried cheeseburger with the bun extra toasted & fries well done. At the end of the day, In-N-Out is just no fuss, fresh, great quality food that is also affordable. It's easy and that's essentially representative of sunny SoCal living.
I know this maybe seems insignificant to a lot of people, but I wholeheartedly believe that food really can create a bridge to understanding your surroundings. That is why whenever I travel, I try to find out what it is that is considered THE local dish, the cornerstone of the culture. I think there's so much to be said in just one bite and that is exactly why breaking bread with friends and family is such a universal practice.I have a few exciting trips lined up for this year, one of which is with my good friend and photographer, Jonathan. I can hardly wait to share my experiences with you and I hope you all stick around for the adventures to come.
In-N-Out, for me, is pure nostalgia. It reminds me of my childhood. Red palms on a white ground, that's iconic. From that classic, laid back, retro look of each storefront to the bare simplicity of the menu, there is no way I could compare it to anything else. I used to look forward to back-to-school nights when my school (public school, btw) would treat everyone in attendance to those delicious little burgers. I'm reminded of when my friends and I fucked around at the Plant in Van Nuys, hit the arcade, and grabbed a bag filled with melty double-doubles to sneak into the theater. When my friends and I started driving and we'd go on day trips to the beach, we'd roll through the drive-thru before hitting the freeway."Are you eating in the car?," the cashier would ask. "Yes." You'd then take your order in a cardboard box w placemats to keep from spilling all that extra spread all over yourself. Even to this day, every time I visit, as soon as I land, I make sure to pick up a mustard fried cheeseburger with the bun extra toasted & fries well done. At the end of the day, In-N-Out is just no fuss, fresh, great quality food that is also affordable. It's easy and that's essentially representative of sunny SoCal living.
-LEIGH
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