A burger getaway…to sunny L.A.

by Jenna

Traveling means mainly one thing: consuming as much local cuisine as possible at one's point of destination.  After all, it is vacation - a state of mind where dieting and calories are nonexistent - and your time there is quite ephemeral.

I didn't frequent ANY burgers during my 6-month jaunt throughout Switzerland, Croatia, Austria, Czech Republic, Britain or Italy (fare mostly included wine, cheese, and chocolate, fresh fish, schnitzel, fish n chips, and oh too much but never enough pizza and pasta, in that order).  Thus, upon my return to Burger Club I knew I had to do something spectacular to make up for lost time and 6 unvisited NYC burger locales.  I needed to impress BC prez (slash dictator - soon to be overthrown) so that she wouldn't kick me to the curb for all of the meat that I hadn't consumed.

A Jewish family affair, where my 13 year old cuz was called to the torah as a bar mitzvah, blessedly brought me to Los Angeles for a long weekend.  This is a truly magical land where everyone miraculously stays fit in a lifestyle consisting mostly of sitting in horrendous traffic and driving to and from in and out burger and LA's hottest fitness classes.  I've never heard a fitness instructor shout at his class "work off last night's guacamole, COME ON!" but i must say, motivation is key.

My first In n Out experience unfortunately was a bit blurry, taking place at 2:30am where upon rolling up in the drive thru we were greeted with a friendly "Congratulations! You are the last order of the night!"  (What a feat, pat on the back) Along with some crispy fries, this was a sensational burger, stuffed with pickles, onions, lettuce and tomato.  I want it now.

I was told I couldn't board my plane back to NY without trying the best NEW burger in LA - UMAMI.  Befuddled by the glorious menu of eclectic burgers (and knowing I would for sure be shot dead by Smash with the rifle in her father's study) I avoided the veggie burger though it looked incredibly intriguing: mushroom & edamame patty, white soy aioli, truffle ricotta, cipollini onions, lettuce, slow-roasted tomato.

I settled for the SoCal: the traditional pick, and as I held the burger in my hands it oozed with the general amazingness of burger heaven, and yet I sensed in it something more.  And yes, after the first bite, I quickly realized this was much more than just a burger - ladies and gents, this is to date the best burger I've ever experienced! The blend of the sensuous meat and cheese melting in my mouth is sensory overload (in a good way), not to mention the burger's love affair with the adjacent sweet potato fries. Go Umami! You rock.

(Flash forward to several months later and it has been reported that Umami will be making its way over to our coast!  we will welcome it with open arms and hungry bellies).