FoCo Joe at Home: In N Out Neapolitan Shake
Spring is upon us, but unfortunately I am not. I’m off this term — a by-product of my swim season schedule — and living it up at home in San Francisco, California. I have an internship I am excited to start in a couple days, a family and a fair amount of free time. Some of this free time, I am pleased to announce, will be dedicated to furthering this wonderful column. Thus I begin the next chapter of FoCo Joe — a spin-off “special edition” column, if you will—FoCo Joe at Home.
In-N-Out has three basic shakes to choose from: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. One of the many reasons why it’s so great is its simple menu, delivering only the fundamentals. A hamburger, a cheeseburger and a “double-double” — two patties and two strips of cheese — are the only burger options. The Neapolitan shake is exactly what it sounds like: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry all mixed into one cup. It’s one of the several items on In-N-Out’s secret menu. Frankly, I do not want to fully give away the secret menu, so I am not going to spell out the items I do know off the top of my head. Just ask one of your “Cali friends” or Google it. But I do believe that the Neapolitan shake is worth disclosing.
The shake is so good, for so many reasons. Its creaminess is perfect — thick enough to enjoy with a spoon or through the straw (I prefer spoon). Its temperature is chilly — as it should be — but not so cold that contorting your mouth into the shape of a pelican beak for a gargantuan slurp is impossible. Arguably the best part is the fact that the three flavors are not mixed as a blender might mix them, but rather remain isolated so one can enjoy each flavor independently or mixed — wherever your spoon takes you. It is this kind of flexibility and power that makes the shake so attractive. Don’t believe me? Notice the three colors on the lid of the shake all represented. And almost equally, too!
I should have posted this sooner, so that all my West Coast People — that’s a joke in case the capital letters fail to give it away — are reminded to savor one last meal at In-N-Out before heading back to Hanover. To my West Coast People and all my dear readers, fear not — I’ll be going to In-N-Out plenty of times this term. I’ll also be hitting up so many other fun Bay Area joints too. Stay posted!