In-N-Out Comes to Houston: Should I be Happy?

In-N-Out is coming to the American City of the Twenty-First Century: Houston. One the last reasons to stay in the past, California, is coming to Space City, yet I have mixed feelings. Partly one is sad to see California sacked by Texas yet again: the last few exclusive treasures coming to heart of the Republic.

Will Disney build a theme park here next?

In-N-Out makes the best cheeseburger I have eaten. As any picture of me at 55 shows, I know cheeseburgers.

When I moved to Texas, I was told of Whataburger: this was good. If you want a wildly greasy (and who doesn’t somtimes?) cheeseburger with insane combinations of delicious ingredients (but mostly bacon), whataburger is delicious.

In-N-Out is a sunny day on the beach in Los Angeles with Hope and the BFF’s enjoying sand and a breeze: nothing complicated, just perfect basic ingredients. Whataburger is San Antonio on the River Walk having seen the Alamo: all the richness and complications of America.

The cheeseburgers are as different as the states and cities that birthed them. Of course, this all really a matter of choice (much as I hate to admit it). I am glad In-N-Out is coming to Houston, because I love their food, but . . .

Must we make every place like every place? Does a SoCal burger really belong in the future?

One treat when I visit So-Cal is to get an animal style burger. Now I can do that a few minutes from Saint Anne’s or buy tons of the clean and delicious fries for the College at The Saint Constantine School. That’s good.

Or maybe not.

I pause and wonder if we would be better off if each area was allowed to produce her own regional cuisine, before being overwhelmed by a national brand. Still this is an argument like those for tariffs: tempting, but failed. In-N-Out is delicious and if Houstonians end up liking it, then it will stay. The regional chain will grow.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston a woman is having an idea for a new kind of cheeseburger. She is cooking it now in her kitchen and thinking of starting a eatery. She will do so and the unique Houtonian taste will bring people and then as the 21st century unfolds, Houston will have Whataburger, In-N-Out, and this new taste of Texas.

That’s what liberty does for us. Texas is not appropriating California, liberty is bringing California here. Liberty knows no limits: there is always room for creativity, because there is not a finite amount of creativity! When I was growing up, we had so few food choices. Pizza as a little boy was an exotic treat we had to go to the city to get.  Now I am within a few miles of Ethiopian, Lebanese, Chinese, Thai, French, Mexican, Texican, and that very  diversity lets me know I am in Houston: global Texas.

Will I soon eat at In-N-Out?

Just so.