<p>The shrimp situation is evolving. I believe the issue is Thai shrimp.
Btw, for years the largest investor in Chipotle was Mcdonald’s, per something I read.</p>
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<p>Yes, Chipotle has an identity problem, imo. It really was a “stealth” McDonalds for years. I guess it is independent now. But I appreciate cartera’s knowledge and research: Chipotle’s claims of being something better than McDonald’s ingredients assembled in a different form is unfounded, at least as far as I can tell.</p>
<p>I don’t know what McDonald’s does to keep antibiotics and hormones out of its meat. Chipotle does do that so there is some benefit to being “naturally raised.”</p>
<p>I just love the lime-cilantro rice. Actually found a clone recipe on the internet, and it’s good…but not quite Chipotle. And the chicken/carnitas…fresh and steaming hot, and you can see them cooking it. It doesn’t sit under the hot lamps like other fast foods.</p>
<p>I really want a carnita bowl right about now…two scoops of rice, no beans, extra veggies, 2 scoops of pico, a sprinkle of cheese. Perfection. :-)</p>
<p>I think the person upthread who said Chipotle’s is “medium” food has the key. Don’t compare Chipotle’s to Taco Bell, or to the local Mexican place. That’s not its niche. Instead, compare it to places like Quizno’s, Panera, Five Guys, Noodles & Co., etc. In between fast food and sit-down chains like TGIFridays.</p>
<p>As to the idea that Chipotle’s (and Taco Bell) will fail in areas where there is “real” Mexican food: don’t count on it. McDonald’s flourishes in plenty of places where there used to be “real” diners, and Starbucks has replaced countless “real” coffee shops. People respond to advertising and to consistentcy, even if the food is consistently mediocre.</p>
<p>I should add that around here, going to Chipotle’s has become a “thing” among teenagers. I don’t really know why. (And there’s a similar chain, California Tortilla, that I like better, but it’s the same kind of thing.)</p>
<p>^^^ Agree on Chipotle being that middle ground. I LOVE Chipotle!</p>
<p>I almost always get a burrito bowl (so, no tortilla) w/chicken, black beans, corn, lettuce, cheese and sour cream - and the hottest salsa they have. One burrito bowl gives me two full meals! </p>
<p>I never eat there though - almost always do take out. I find the insides of the restaurant seating area to be very uninviting. Long lines, but they go quickly.</p>
<p>Oh, and adore the rice! Would love to see the copycat recipe!</p>
<p>Haven’t read the thread. Check out Roti for a healthier aternative to Chipolte. Looks like they have kind of the same business model - middle eastern food assembled right in front of you as you request your sides/toppings. Many have opened in downtown DC.</p>
<p>I like Chipotle’s guacamole, but do not care for their limited menu options. I am not a burrito fan. I loved Baja Fresh, but they left my state. Now I eat Qdoba. They have a more extensive menu than Chipotle, and a rewards program with frequent promotions. The Qdoba by me is never as busy as Chipotle and I would not be surprised if my area Qdobas do not survive.</p>
<p>Dudedad, Roti looks good. I hope it expands. Falafel, yum. There are really no places at all that serve that kind of middle eastern food in this suburban area.</p>
<p>I saw upthread where somebody mentioned the new Fresh City restaurants in Massachusetts. They are apparently gearing up to go national.</p>
<p>[Fresh</a> City resurrects plans for nat’l franchise rollout - Boston Business Journal](<a href=“http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2003/05/05/story7.html]Fresh”>http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2003/05/05/story7.html) </p>
<p>It’s very interesting that both Chipotle and Fresh City seem to have some sort of connection with McDonald’s.</p>
<p>Middle eastern food is soooooo popular here. If Roti ever goes public, I’d buy into it, as I could see that chain really taking off.</p>
<p>I’d definitely go to Roti. I see they are in DC so maybe Maryland is not far behind. I read that they do not franchise, however.</p>
<p>“I believe the issue is Thai shrimp.”</p>
<p>The issue is ALL farmed shrimp. The ponds are maintained using chloramphenicol (a known human carcinogen), and other cancer-causing chemicals, as well as huge amounts of antibiotics. The farms give out after 7-10 years, leaving behind huge, grey chemicalized wastelands on which nothing will grow. I have been working on this issue in South India for the past 20 years, but it is a problem in 66 countries. No land formerly shrimpfarmed has been restored to protective, original agriculture anywhere in the world.</p>
<p>Most Third World farmed shrimp is banned in Europe (for health reasons), which is what created the glut here (and has driven down prices for the past decade.)</p>
<p>Mini. Oh crap. I love shrimp; any options?</p>
<p>Wild-caught. Or just the little ones from the North Atlantic and Pacific.</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone has mentioned Chipoltes Margaritas, which I like as much as their burritos.</p>
<p>There are places that serve and sell fresh caught shrimp. I don’t think any chains do, however. You can find places online that ship too but you’ll just have to trust they are really selling fresh caught. Here is a good article about what some of the grocers are doing - unfortunately, it’s a year old and I can’t find an update. </p>
<p>[Six</a> Steps to Recovery | Greenpeace](<a href=“Greenpeace USA: For People and Planet”>Greenpeace USA: For People and Planet)</p>
<p>Our Chipotles doesn’t have a margarita—that would make it so worth the trip. For us, we have a local Mexican place that doesn’t do a great burrito, but does Diablo Camarones (shrimp) which I must now ignore.</p>
<p>The Chipotle here doesn’t serve margaritas. I don’t know how many do.</p>
<p>I don’t think the ones here serve them either. I love a good margarita so I think I would have noticed. I always insist on fresh caught, never farmed, tequila.</p>
<p>The best reports on the nightmare of shrimp farming come from the Environmental Justice Foundation in London:</p>
<p>[Environmental</a> Justice Foundation EJF: Reports on Shrimp](<a href=“http://www.ejfoundation.org/page94.html]Environmental”>http://www.ejfoundation.org/page94.html)</p>
<p>My Indian father literally lost his eyes in a fast in New Delhi, trying to get an Indian Supreme Court order to close down ALL of India’s coastal shrimp farms enforced. It turned out that nature did that for him (where there used to be thousands, there are fewer than 100 left near where I work.) But the environmental degradation has been devastating, displacing tens of thousands of people with no place to go (some of them become Wal-Mart semi-slaves.)</p>
<p><a href=“NameBright - Coming Soon”>NameBright - Coming Soon;