[Via Gothamist]
A Chipotle conversation broke out in the comments section in the post about Japadog closing Friday night. So this is for you!
Chipotle is introducing its new tofu-based burrito, sofritas, in NYC locations today.
We'll let Gothamist explain what goes into this. Or these.
Watery, chalky supermarket tofu this is not. The chain sources their product from Oakland-based Hodo Soy, which crafts artisanal tofu with beans sourced from organic, sustainable farms across the country. The partnership reflects the company's commitment to natural products, as well as the desire for the best-tasting product they can find. The quality stands out, both in the tofu's slightly chewy texture and the subtle nutty flavor.
To create the sofritas, the tofu gets seared and then ground into crumbles similar to the chorizo bits you might find in a taco. The tofu is also braised with chipotle chilies, roasted poblanos and lots of spices, in a treatment similar to the ones given to other protein offerings. The resulting product has a deep, earthy flavor with bright notes of cumin and lots of heat from the peppers.
Meanwhile, in the post last week about the 139th Chipotle opening around Union Square, I said that I had never eaten at a Chipotle.
Per EVG commenter Axis of Eville: "I can't comprehend the idea that someone hasn't had Chipotle."
It's true!
But I will try this new tofu thingy. Some day.
Its simple- in this day and age of outrageous price rises every coupla of months - Chipolte is the solution. Ingredients are healthier than most- they start with non GMO stuff and only use better quality than any local deli or mom & pop. Then, since you can't afford a restaurant- Chipolte has a solution - hire minimum wage earners to serve the stuff cooked on an assembly line -cooked by modular instuction.
ReplyDeleteOr you could cook at home.
ReplyDeleteI too have never eaten at Chipotle. I've always wanted to (really). But they're not really around wherever I am, it seems.
ReplyDeleteNever knew there was one on St Marks. I think that is due to the fact that St Marks is just a giant "blur" to me. I have no idea what's on that block no matter how many times I walk it.
I want to resist this feeling, but I can't help but want to try this tofu burrito. I haven't eaten at Chipotle in ages, but I do like their food. The ingredients are fresh, and the prices aren't bad for what you're getting.
ReplyDeleteI actually wanted to open a Chipotle-like ("rip-off") restaurant in a foreign city and found that their business model is quite interesting. While they pay only slightly more than average fast food (=more than McDonalds), they have less turnover and mobility within.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course while doing market/industry research some guy from California opened a Chipotle knock off in the same city/area that I had hoped to. Stupid Californians.
Not all of their ingredients are non-GMO. But at least they are transparent about it: http://www.chipotle.com/en-us/menu/ingredients_statement/ingredients_statement.aspx
ReplyDeleteSouthpark had the last word on Chipotle.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/RlIHDauX3ao
Chipotle just took a business model used by many small businesses out west - the taqueria - and made it very safe for white suburbia.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, almost all the soy and corn in the US is GMO-laced. So curb your enthusiasm on that one.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, if you like your meat boiled in a plastic bag, then Chipotle is for you! Because plastics NEVER EVER leech dangerous chemicals into the things they are holding.
Honestly, I applaud Chipotle for starting the mass food conversation on sustainability, etc, but it's better to make it yourself, and send a local market signal that you want health food.
Plus, who eats at Chiptole when there's Downtown Bakery?
I used to eat Chipotle until a look at their nutrition info showed a basic burrito was almost 2000 calories with 750% of your daily sodium requirement. The "salad bowls" weren't much healthier.
ReplyDeleteBeing GMO-free and "artisinal" doesn't mean it;s necessarily healthy.
I've never had a Chipotle's either, but then I moved here before they were popular. I also cook. And there's Zaragosa around the corner.
ReplyDeleteNew Yorkers don't get it. The Mexican food here is terrible. In Chicago, the Southwest, or California, you would not need to eat Chipotle. But here you do. It's way better than almost (I said almost) every other burrito...if only for the freshness of the tortilla alone. If you get them to leave off the rice and beans, it's almost kind of authentic (but not really).
ReplyDeleteI swear off all other fast food but I will have some Chipotel sometimes. It tastes like real food to me. Except for the stewed meats which are cooked up at Chiptole headquarters, everything is made fresh. If you don't like Chipotle you don't it, but what you can't do is start scrutinizing their constituent ingredients, and then use that to damn them. Because chances are your local places, your Downtown Bakery's and Zaragoza's, are probably using ingredients that's more questionable than that at the Chipolte. Not that I personally have a problem with that, but just saying, be fair. Not that I want to shill for Chipltoe, no way. It's more like, if you have an open mind about things, you miss out on less stuff. IMO a Chiplote burrito is a fairly decent thing to stuff in your pie-hole every now and then.
ReplyDeleteIf Chipotle is supposedly so healthy then why do they have those suspiciously low calorie ranges posted on their menus? They say a burrito is 400-900 calories, but the wrap alone is 300 calories. To get to 400 calories you would need to have only one other item inside like the black beans and nobody does that. Once you add in all the ingredients you want you easily get to 1200 or more calories, 50 grams of fat, and over 2000 mg of sodium, and thats accordiing to their own online calorie calculator.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to tell how many calories are in there when you're ordering since there are endless combinations, so it's up to the customer to try to guess what fillings have less calories, sodium and fat, which is not so easy to do. Plus those burrtos weigh a couple of pounds and could feed a small family. But obviously they have done a really good job of hooking customers on all that fat and sodium, and their burritos are like crack, once you get hooked its all over. Just wish they were as healthy as they claim.
Anon 8:37 Hey--some people like calories. The number of calories is high because there's a ton of food in one of those burritos. Hey, doesn't that also mean good value? I guess you don't have to eat it all at once right?
ReplyDeleteI tried the tofu thing out of curiosity. It is pretty meaty and satisfying as far as non-meat substances go. Tofu eaters everywhere will probably be psyched.
You don't have to eat the whole thing but as supersizing has proved, when you put more food in front of people they tend to eat it. Maybe you haven't heard about the obesity problem but it is due to large portion sizes and sugar laced drinks, which is what Chipotle does best. I happen to know a guy who gained 10-15 pounds after eating there for lunch every week, when he stopped he dropped the weight. Maybe Chipotles hashtag should be #lardass.
ReplyDelete@ 6:42 PM California hasn't had good Mexican food since the 1970's.
ReplyDeleteNew York has much better Mexican food due to the huge Mexican population here now.
Don't blame us if you don't know where to find it.
Due to global warming, Chipotle may be the only Mexican restaurant to have to drop guacamole from its menu due to rising prices. The Guacapocalypse could happen if avocado prices keep rising and supplies get limited due to droughts and other problems growing in a changing climate. Beef prices are also soaring, which is maybe why they are offering a tofu burrito now that some people say tastes meaty. They might also have to drop some of their salsas or raise prices which would drive many customers away. But not to worry, their stock price is so high there could be a Chiptole on every corner before this ever happens.
ReplyDeleteHasta la pasta.
tried the sofritas. Delicious actually....
ReplyDelete