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Chipotle Goes Solar

YumSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:50:50 -0700

Looks like Chipotle has seen the light. Yesterday, the fast-casual Mexican chain announced plans to install solar paneling on 75 of its locations in the next year. The move will make the company the largest direct producer of solar energy in the restaurant industry to date. Chipotle wants to reduce energy consumption during its peak hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., when the energy grid experiences the highest level of demand. With solar panels, it could eliminate as much as 41 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. The Mexican fast-casual chain has partnered with Standard Renewable Energy to begin installing panels on restaurants in Denver, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. Along with the company's desire to educate diners about food sustainability and use environmentally conscious building materials, this move is yet another case for why customers should support the brand. But let's be honest: the best reason to hit up Chipotle is still for its insanely good burritos. Are you impressed that the company is making more socially conscious strides?

Source: Flickr User bpende

Chipotle Promotes Food, Inc. Documentary

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:37:35 -0700

Chipotle doesn't just want to feed its customers - it wants to educate them, too. The fast-casual food chain has teamed up with Magnolia Pictures, Participant Media, and River Road Entertainment to promote Food, Inc., a documentary that exposes issues with the food industry in America. Beginning today, Chipotle Mexican Grill will host free screenings of the film. In addition, the eatery will advertise Food, Inc. with printed material in its 800-plus stores and prepare a bonus feature about sustainable agriculture to be included in the DVD when it is released later this year.
"Chipotle is a great example of a company that's on the right track to improving our food system," director Robert Kenner said. "Chipotle's philosophy shares many of the same values expressed in Food, Inc., and we are very pleased with their support of our film." The Mexican food chain claims to use more naturally raised poultry and pork than any other restaurant worldwide. It also sources ingredients locally whenever possible and buys 35 percent of its beans from organic producers. This promotion is a smart strategy: if Chipotle's devotees weren't aware of the company's sustainable practices yet, they will be now.

Did you know Chipotle was so dedicated to sustainability? Will you attend a free Food, Inc. screening?

Photo by flickr user Photo2217

Say Cheese! Pork Chipotle Muenster Burgers

partysugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:15:35 -0700

Muenster is an American creation related to France's Munster cheese. It has a smooth texture, yellow interior, and orange rind. Muenster is incredibly mild in flavor with a taste somewhere between American cheese and Jack cheese. The cow's milk cheese is semisoft and great for melting. It's ideal on a grilled cheese sandwich, or in my case, a pork chipotle cheeseburger. To check out the recipe, which is perfect for this weekend's kickoff to Summer, read more.

When I saw this on Gourmet's website, I was immediately smitten. What's not to love about a combination of spicy pork, oozing cheese, and creamy avocado? I followed the recipe word for word and was impressed with the sheer perfection of the burger. The recipe takes the American classic and infuses it with Latin flavors. The final burger is a juicy, smoky, crunchy (thanks to the ingenious addition of tomatillos) masterpiece. Don't be afraid of the mayonnaise; instead, embrace it as a key ingredient that keeps the burger moist.

Pork Chipotle Muenster Burgers
From Gourmet

Ingredients

1 lb ground pork (not lean)
2 teaspoons minced chipotle in adobo plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
2 garlic cloves, forced through a garlic press
4 slices Muenster cheese
4 hamburger buns, toasted
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 large tomatillo (1/4 lb), husked and rinsed, then sliced
1/2 small avocado, sliced
1/2 cup cilantro sprigs

Directions

Prepare a gas grill for direct-heat cooking over medium heat.
Gently mix pork, chipotle, garlic, and a scant tsp salt until just combined. Form into 4 (1/2-inch-thick) patties.
Oil grill rack, then grill patties, covered, 4 minutes.
Flip patties and top with a slice of cheese. Grill, covered, until just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more.
Spread buns with mayonnaise and assemble burgers with tomatillo, avocado, and cilantro.

Serves 4.

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Yummy Links: From Little Gordon Ramsay to Vanilla Cupcakes

partysugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:50:33 -0800

Little Gordon Ramsay to terrorize Hell's Kitchen contestants. - Eat Me Daily
What exactly is a chipotle? - Cookthink
Eleven of the world's most common wine questions answered. - Wall Street Journal
Don't open that oven while cooking! - The Kitchn
The savory yet scrumptious side of pie. - Bon Appétit
Have you seen Tom Colicchio's new Diet Coke commercial? - Serious Eats
Must make: vanilla bean cupcakes with salted caramel frosting. - Chow

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Chipotle Appoints Niman Ranch Founder as Advisor

YumSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:00:46 -0800

With its affordable menu, fresh produce, and appetite-stimulating burritos, Mexican chain Chipotle can’t get any better. Or can it? Yesterday, the casual eatery announced that it has appointed Bill Niman, founder of sustainable farm Niman Ranch, as its sustainable agriculture advisor.

The fast food company, which has purchased naturally raised pork from Niman Ranch since 2001, hopes that the Niman appointment will allow Chipotle to “help carry our message of making food from sustainable sources available and affordable so everyone can eat better.” When he started Niman Ranch in 1971, Bill Niman blazed the trail for the sustainable farming movement in the United States. He took up farming with a focus on slow food principles of high-quality animal feed, natural, antibiotic- and hormone-free farming, and ethical animal care.

Are you surprised to learn of this news? Do you think that the pioneer, with his specialized focus on local agriculture, will be able to make an impact on the chain, which has more than 800 stores?

Source, Source

Taste Test: Chuao Firecracker Chocolate Bar

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:15:52 -0700

Last year, I sung the praises of a small chocolatier, Chuao, for its unique and delicious flavor combinations, like strawberry balsamic and spicy Cabernet caramel. I had a chance to try their newest bar, the Firecracker, and it was no exception.The chocolate smelled typical enough - bittersweet and slightly smoky. But once I took a bite, my experience took a turn for the bizarre. First, I tasted creamy dark chocolate then gradually intensifying heat and a tingly, burning sensation in the back of my throat. And all of a sudden, out of nowhere, loud crackling and popping, at which point I realized there was not only an explosion of flavor, but also a physical explosion of some kind. To find out what the cracker of the Firecracker was, read more.

Turns out the appropriately-named chocolate bar is made of dark chocolate, enrobed in chipotle chiles, salt, and popping candy - the kind I loved in the third grade. I can only liken the bizarre, oddly addictive experience to going on a roller coaster for the first time and wanting to go again. For those of you who are game (it is not for the unadventurous eater or faint of heart), I encourage you to go for a ride. Does spicy chocolate with popping candy sound like something you'd want to try?

Fast & Easy Dinner: Chipotle Steak and Tomatoes

partysugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:30:12 -0700

This delicious dish places thick slices of grilled steak on a bed tomatoes and avocados. Flavored with spicy chipotle peppers in adobo, it's kind of like a deconstructed fajita with no tortilla. The recipe is super simple and comes together in mere minutes. Served with a cold beer, it makes a superb start to the weekend! Get it now when you read more.

Chipotle Steak and Tomatoes
From Better Homes and Garden magazine

Ingredients

2 6- to 8-oz. beef shoulder petite tenders, or 2 6- to 8-oz. beef ribeye steaks
Salt and ground black pepper
1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, finely chopped plus 2 tsp. adobo sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
3 medium (1 lb.) tomatoes, cut in thick slices
2 medium avocados, halved, pitted, peeled and sliced
1/2 of a small red onion, very thinly sliced (1/2 cup)

Directions

Sprinkle steaks lightly with salt and pepper. Spread each with 1 teaspoon adobo sauce.
For a charcoal grill, grill steaks on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals until desired doneness, turning once. Allow 10 to 12 minutes for medium rare (145°F) or 12 to 15 minutes for medium doneness (160°F). For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place steaks on grill rack over heat. Cover; grill as above.
Meanwhile, for dressing, in a screw-top jar combine the chopped pepper, olive oil, and vinegar. Shake to combine.
Slice steaks and arrange on serving plates with tomatoes and avocado slices. Top with onion slices and drizzle with dressing.

Serves 4.

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Not Your Regular Nachos: Creamy Adobo Chip Nacho Bites

partysugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:16:47 -0700

This week I found an interesting recipe on MyRecipes.com and it inspired me to create these bite-sized, creamy nachos. The baked chipotle chips are topped with a creamy goat cheese mixture and a cilantro salsa. Avocados were finally ripe at my grocery store, so I was able to blitz up a quick, easy guacamole. These make for a playful presentation and would look lovely on a graduation party menu. To see how I made these incredibly scrumptious nachos - once you pop, you can't stop - read more.

Adobo Chips With Warm Goat Cheese and Cilantro Salsa
Modified from Cooking Light

Ingredients

Salsa:
1 (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
2 cups chopped fresh cilantro (about 1 bunch)
1 cup finely chopped tomatillos* (about 4 medium)
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Guacamole:
1 garlic clove, coarsely chopped
1 small shallot, coarsely chopped
1/4-1/2 cup cilantro
1 ripe avocado, cut into 1/4 inch chunks
juice from one lime
salt
Chips:
2 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 teaspoon adobo sauce
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cumin
8 (6-inch) white corn tortillas
Cheese:
1/2 cup (4 ounces) block-style fat-free cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup (2 ounces) goat cheese

Get more recipes at MyRecipes.com

Directions

To prepare salsa, remove 2 chipotle chiles from can; finely chop to measure 2 teaspoons.
Remove 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from can, and set aside (reserve remaining chipotle chiles and adobo sauce for another use). Combine chiles, cilantro, tomatillos, onion, and 1/4 cup lime juice in a medium bowl. Alternately, pop all of the ingredients for the salsa in a food processor and chop, pulsing until fine. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

In the uncleaned food processor bowl, combine the ingredients for the guacamole. Stir until a fine paste forms. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 375°.
To prepare chips, combine 2 1/2 teaspoons lime juice, canola oil, adobo sauce, paprika, and cumin in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.
Brush 1 tortilla with about 1/4 teaspoon juice mixture, spreading to edge. Top with another tortilla; repeat procedure with juice mixture. Repeat procedure 6 more times (you will have 1 stack of 8 tortillas). Using a sharp knife, cut tortilla stack into 6 wedges. Alternately, use your favorite cookie-cutter shape to cut the tortillas into small shapes. I used a small scallop-edged circle.

Place wedges in a single layer on baking sheets. Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes; turn wedges. Bake an additional 10 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
To prepare cheese, combine cream cheese and goat cheese in a small bowl; stir until blended. Spread cheese mixture into a shallow 6-ounce ramekin or baking dish; cover with foil.
Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes or just until warm.

To serve top each chip with some cheese, the guacamole, and the salsa. Or, serve deconstructed with the 4 components in separate bowls. Allow guests to pick and choose their chip topping.

Serves 8.

Like the recipe above? Try out some of these other ones:

- Mexican Meals in Minutes
- Dinner Tonight Recipes in 45 Minutes or Less
- Get More Appetizers Recipes

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Gwyneth, Mario Team With Chipotle For Spain . . . on the Road Again

partysugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:30:24 -0700

I can't wait to watch PBS's up and coming travel-food show, Spain . . . on the Road Again. The show - which has already been filmed - stars the random, but fabulous foursome of Gwyneth Paltrow, Mario Batali, Mark Bittman, and Claudia Bassols. Although the air date is yet to be determined, more details about the show have been released. According to an article in Advertising Age, the series will:

culminate in an Iron Chef-esque competition emceed by Mr. Batali and Ms. Paltrow. In between visits to the Prado Museum in Madrid, an impromptu chat with starchitect Frank Gehry and countless trips in topless convertibles furnished by Mercedes, Ms. Paltrow lets her newfound appreciation for the less-refined side of food shine.

In an attempt to highlight their "Food With Integrity" slogan, Chipotle has signed on as the show's main sponsor. The fast-food Mexican chain owned by McDonald's wants people to know their commitment to using natural meats and organic products.

While the combination of Chiptole, Gwyneth, and Mario seems odd, I have a feeling the show is going to be amazing. What do you think of the partnership? Are you looking forward to Spain . . . on the Road Again?

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Yummy Link: Stuffed Burrito

partysugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:03:18 -0700

When I came across this recipe for a chipotle chicken burrito, it brought back memories of La Burrita - the tasty, late-night burrito joint that was across the street from my college apartment. I can't wait to relive old times by making my own variation of this scrumptious looking burrito! - The Kitchen Sink