Remnants of our disappointing meal at In-N-Out
A recent business trip to Southern California with my daughter gave me an opportunity to show her some of the highlights of my childhood since I was born there and lived there until I joined the Navy. We drove by my old house, high school, and finally to some of the places I most enjoyed eating.
The first was Mi Casa, a Mexican restaurant in Newport Beach. I used to love going there on Friday nights with my girlfriend. The place was packed, the atmosphere fun, and the food amazing.
But when Allie and I ate there, the first thing I noticed was how tired and dated the place seemed to be. The menu was exactly the same (I had a #7 with a Chicken Enchilada – same as usual) but the food was just bland. I almost felt like Gordon Ramsey on an episode of Kitchen Nightmares. We left and I vowed never to return.
Then Allie wanted to go to In-N-Out Burger, a Southern California staple. Years after I left California, I’d always tell people they HAD to go to In-N-Out. There was just no better burger.
But when Allie and I went there, the burgers were just greasy, too onion-y, and the famous fries dried out and bland (I hear Gordon Ramsey again…but he pronounces it “blond”). Maybe we just got too accustomed to the amazing burgers at Five Guys. Or maybe In-N-Out was never that good, it was just the IDEA that they were good.
That’s a good lesson for all of us. No matter how good we all get at what we do, we’re only as good as our last great accomplishment. At some point our competition will beat us or we’ll just slowly fade away, like the old memories of Mi Casa and In-N-Out Burger. While we rest on our laurels, Five Guys and Moe’s Southwest Grill will be on our heels, working to put us out of business.
This week, think about how you’ll stay hungry.
Come to think of it, I’m hungry for some Five Guys!