StepOut - Donate

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

***Warning - Not to be Read While Eating***

I had a fun long weekend visiting my friend Kerri in Sacramento. On my way home Monday night, I decided to stop at In-N-Out Burger, quickly use the facilities, grab some tasty grub, and head back on home. (Diet? What? I walked a lot this weekend...doesn't it even out?) Of course, the one time I'm planning to park and go in (because traffic has been slow, and I really need to head inside), there are only a few cars in the drive-thru line.

Anyway, I take care of business and proceed to order off of the easy order menu. #3 with a diet Coke. That's a plain old hamburger, fries and a drink. Pretty easy, right? Well, I sit and wait...and wait...and wait a little more. Easy order...the only special thing I did was ask for no onions. All these order numbers higher than mine are being called. And I'm only getting hungrier, sitting on the hard plastic bench, waiting for my order to be up so I can get back on the road.

I see a few takeout bags hit the counter at the fry station and then move on to the pick-up counter. Dare I hope? The guy in white peeks at the order slips in each bag, calls a number that isn't mine, and returns one bag to the fry guy. Yep, that problematic bag is mine. It makes it back to the counter and my number is finally up. I get back in the car and start mindlessly munching on hot french fries as I head home to feed the cat. After getting home, feeding poor neglected Gracie and settling down in front of my TV, I take out the burger and notice a thick layer of cheese. I assume I have been eating someone else's order...Nope, it says #3, hamburger, no onions, right there on the receipt in the bag. Oh well, I'm hungry and I'll go ahead and consume these extra fatty calories. I take a few bites, and notice that not only is this the thinnest meat patty that I've ever gotten from In-n-Out, it's bright pink inside. Not bleeding, but not close enough to "done" for me to keep eating. Now I'm annoyed. I yank the patty off of the bun (which is difficult, considering that it's glued in by the cheese), and irritatedly continue to eat my hot cheese sandwich. Yeah, now I'm realizing that I could have nuked the meat, but I didn't think of it then.

Anyway, the cheesy/veggie on a bun is still pretty tasty, so I finish it off and delve back into the greasy bag to see if there are any fries left. Jackpot! They can't hide from me! I'm popping some little fries in my mouth and notice that one in my hand has something on it.

Hmm... I bring it closer to my blind little eyes and see...no, it can't be. It's...a hair! A very short hair. A very specifically textured, very short hair!! Oh my God there's pubic hair in my food! Suddenly I'm nauseated, and wondering if the undercooked meat has given me e-coli. Or, even scarier - were there more hairs in the bag that I may have eaten while shoving fries down my gullet in my darkened car??!! I realize that is highly unlikely. But the thought came unbidden! My only comfort (small and cold that it is) is that if the hair had been in the boiling oil, the heat would have killed any bacterial nasties that may have been clinging to it.

So disgusting...I felt semi-ill the rest of the night and most of yesterday. It is making fasting for Ash Wednesday much easier today. And, I have a feeling I'll not be tempted to go off the diet for an In-N-Out binge anytime soon.

I am still grossed out.

11 comments:

Calamity Jen said...

I credit you with saving me from succumbing to the late-evening munchies tonight. I think I'll bookmark that post to read every time I find myself craving an undeserved snack.

Anonymous said...

That is super-gross.
I am sooooo sorry that you had that happen to you.

If I were you, I might write a letter to either that branch or to the headquarters. You'll probably get an apology and a gift certificate out of it....not that you'll want to use it....

Ugh, and I have to have a snack tonight to go with my Advil.....not hungry....

Kristin said...

I will not go to or eat in-n-out, it is disgusting. Tried it and the food sucks. You just verified it for me. Yay.

Pancho said...

I think this might have just been a miscommunication. IN&OUT has code words for their orders, like a 4x4=four patties on your bun. You must have inadvertently asked for the Clarence Thomas which actually is a pubic hair on your hamburger. It's an honest mistake, next time just be more careful.

Anonymous said...

THAT IS DISCUSTING!!!!!!!!! ugh! You need to call headquarters!!!!!!!!I'm so sorry! Which one did you go to????????? UGH! You'll never eat there again!! Too bad, I actually liked in and out. LOL and Pancho's comment.

Dagny said...

Ewwwww ewwww ewwww! I knew there was a reason I haven't been to In n Out in some time.

Katyola said...

Yucko. We don't have In & Out on the east coast, but I'm still swearing off that place.

Fluffycat said...

Oh so nasty. I guess that's a good diet thing though, getting grossed out by fast food.

BellaKarma said...

Just when I jumped off the vegetarian-wagon to eat an In & Out burger - after nearly 12 years! I'm jumping back ON!

E-mail headquarters. In & Out used to have superb customer service - yet in the past year or so, my mom has had to complain several times.

Anonymous said...

Oh no, not in In-N-Out, my favorite place! Why did I have to come here and learn this?!

Romance said...

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww