The MoPR Blog

Two Johns debate the merits of Harvey’s vs. In-N-Out burgers for business trip luncheon fare.

John S: Harvey’s Hamburgers

While all my friends have become “foodies” with epicurean tastes and a gourmet vocabulary, I remain focused on the one food milieu that has served me well in more than a decade and a half of business travel: burgers. So it was my very great pleasure, while on a trip to Vancouver, BC, to give my MoPR colleagues (well, two of them anyway) a truly Canadian treat. I took them to the only Harvey’s Hamburgers in the greater Vancouver Statistical Metropolitan Area.

Without question, Harvey’s provides a superior offering in four fundamental categories: flavor, condiments, sides and price.

When you arrive at Harvey’s, you are able to select from a wide range of delicious sandwiches. But what, I ask, could be better than Harvey’s “No. 4” – The Double Original Combo – with cheese, a medium Diet Pepsi and fries? I’ll tell you what, the No. 4 with cheese, a medium Diet Pepsi and poutine!

When they make the burger for you at Harvey’s, you get to choose what you want on it. And what are the choices? Ketchup, mustard, (light) mayonnaise and relish, of course. But also pickles (sliced the long way into strips), tomatoes, onions and – are you ready? – hot peppers. That my friends is 457 grams of great sandwich, making you burn off a mere 749 calories and 43.2 grams of fat.

There is no nutritional information on poutine, that French Canadian delicacy of potatoes, curded cheese and gravy. And why should there be? Is there nutritional information for Manna from Heaven? Of course not. So just scoop out a glob with your fork and enjoy.

The combo, plus poutine, costs about $8.00. But that’s $8.00 Canadian, which comes to about 78 cents in US currency. Whatever the exchange rate, a burger that tastes like you expect it would from the picture on the menu is worth any price.

John G: In-N-Out Burger

The burger from San Dimas, California – the semi-mythical abode of the slacker prophets Bill and Ted – provides a most excellent taste adventure. I’m not talking about the No. 4. I’m talking about the No. 1: The Double-Double, fries and a Diet Coke from In-N-Out Burger. I find it interesting that my Canadian oppressor/colleague touts Harvey’s and in the very same breath begs me to chauffer him to just one place whenever we’re in Silicon Valley: In-N-Out Burger.

Whenever a product is overly laden with added features, you must wonder about what is at the core. In-N-Out Burger may offer less choice, but in their simplicity they have boiled the burger down to its essential elements with Zen-like efficiency. You want choices at In-N-Out Burger? One patty or two; with cheese or without; grilled onions or none. Make your selection now, pilgrim.

The Double-Double with onions weighs 330 grams. A bit smaller than a Double Original with cheese at Harvey’s, but In-N-Out’s creation is sans the extraneous Canadian elements that detract from the burger itself.

Simplicity finds its way to In-N-Out’s French Fries too, as a whole potato is sliced and dropped into a deep fryer, and from there into a basket and onto your tray. I’ve had poutine. Poutine was a side of mine. But poutine is no basket of fries.

Oh, and by the way, Diet Coke is better than Diet Pepsi.

What’s the cost? Five bucks.

Conclusion

The great thing is that no one, at least not today, will ever be faced with having to make the excruciatingly difficult choice between Harvey’s Hamburgers and In-N-Out Burger. Harvey’s can only be found in nine Canadian provinces (and no territories) and In-N-Out Burger restaurants are only in California, Nevada and Arizona.

So together we agree, the Face-Off between these two icons of business travel dining comes to a draw.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 at 11:29 pm and is filed under Mobility Public Relations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.