Review of Chipotle Mexican Grill

I've recently discovered Chipotle Mexican Grill and it has quickly become my favorite fast food restaurant. Fortune Online quipped, "Think of Chipotle as the fast-food equivalent of yuppie supermarket chain Whole Foods Market." Fortunately for those of us on a more limited budget, Chipotle is far more affordable than Whole Foods. You can get a meal and beverage there for about $7 or $8. Yes, it's a little more money than a typical fast food meal, but it's definitely worth it. Whenever I eat at McDonalds or Burger King, I almost feel like I've poisoned my body. I frequently get stomachaches and heart palpitations from the massive amounts of sugar, fat, and carbohydrates I've consumed. At Chipotle, though, I feel like I've eaten real food that's both nourishing and (reasonably) healthy. Granted, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole aren't exactly diet foods, but at least the ingredients are all fresh, contain no artificial colors or flavorings, and are (partially) free of antibiotics and pesticides.

Chipotle prides itself on a method of food production called "Food with Integrity." With this method, animals are raised with no growth hormones or antibiotics and given vegetarian feed that contain no animal-byproducts. They either roam freely in open pastures or are kept in "deeply-bedded pens" that have more space than those in traditional factory farms. Not all of Chipotle's food comes from natural farms, but a considerable percentage of it does: 100% of their pork, 60% of their chicken, and 40% of their beef.

This more human and ecologically sustainable approach was the brainchild of founder Steve Ells, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. He opened the first Chipotle Mexican Grill in Denver in 1993. In the early years of the business, Steve was dissatisfied with their recipe for carnitas (braised, shredded pork). One day, while reading Ed Behr's newsletter The Art of Eating, he came across an article about naturally raised hogs on a farm in Iowa. The farmers "relied on care rather than chemicals, and practiced animal husbandry the way their parents and grandparents had, and their parents and grandparents before that." In 2001, he decided to implement this method. Not only was it better for our environment and our health, but he also found it improved the flavor of the pork. Today, Chipotle has hundreds of locations and they buy "more naturally raised meat than any other restaurant in the country."

When you walk into Chipotle, you'll find a modern, attractive ambiance decorated with Mayan-inspired artwork. Head to the counter, where you'll be given a choice between five options: (1) Burrito (includes a flour tortilla, cilantro-lime rice, choice of pinto or vegetarian black beans, meat, salsa, cheese or sour cream, and romaine lettuce. Guacamole is included with the vegetarian burrito.), (2) Fajita Burrito (which is just like a burrito except with sautéed peppers and onions instead of beans. The vegetarian option includes sautéed vegetables, vegetarian black beans, and guacamole), (3) Burrito Bol (a burrito or fajita in a bowl with no tortilla), (4) Tacos (choice of soft flour or crispy corn tortillas, choice of meat, salsa, cheese or sour cream, and romaine lettuce), or (5) Salad (romaine lettuce with choice of beans, meat, salsa and cheese, with freshly-made chipotle-honey vinaigrette).

Then, you'll have a choice between four different meats: Chicken (marinated in chipotle adobo, then grilled), Steak (marinated in chipotle adobo, then grilled), Carnitas (naturally raised pork, seasoned with thyme, bay leaves, juniper berries and freshly cracked black pepper, seared, then braised for hours), or Barbacoa (shredded beef braised in chipotle adobo, cumin, cloves, garlic, and oregano. There is also a Vegetarian option of fresh guacamole and vegetarian black beans (and sautéed onions and peppers with the fajita).

There are four salsas to choose from: Fresh Tomato (mild), Roasted Chili-Corn (medium), Tomatillo-Green Chili (medium), or Tomatillo-Red Chili (hot). Extras include chips and guacamole, chips and salsa, guacamole, and chips. Drink options include margaritas, specialty beers, domestic beers, bottled drinks, and soda.

I've tried almost all of Chipotle's food and found it delicious, but my all-time favorite is the crispy tacos with chicken, fresh tomato salsa, cheese and lettuce. I go to Chipotle's about once or twice a week, and it's the perfect choice if you want a quick meal that's tasty, economical, and socially conscious.

Work Cited

Chipotle Mexican Grill. URL: www.chipotle.com