Chipotle Run

My 'local' Chipotle

Sometimes you just need a hit of that sweet-sweet Chipotle Gourmet Burrito & Taco lovin'. Such was the case yesterday.

If you live in the great state of Connecticut, this poses a problem. One might think that in a University town like New Haven, with thousands of students eager to drop cash on anything even mildly addicting, that there would be hundreds of these food emporiums scattered throughout our fair city. One would be wrong.

Fact - There is not a single Chipotle in the entire state.

Fact - The closest Chipotle is 47.6 miles away in Farmingdale, NY.

Fact - Farmingdale is across Long Island Sound or 47.6 miles as the bird flies not the car drives.

Don't believe me? Check it out.

My 'local' Chipotle in context. Looking up Broadway from 17th St.

Thus, my 'local' Chipotle is in Manhattan - two hours to the West. Specifically, it is in Union Square. Technically there are a handful that are closer to Grand Central Terminal -my normal point of entry- however the location in Union Square has become my default. Not quite as convenient as when I lived a stone's throw away from one in Highland Park, but you do what you can.

The odd thing, however, is that I'm not even a massive Chipotle fan. I like it and all, but there are better/tastier/more authentic options out there. Here in New Haven there are the [formerly Roomba] Burrito carts that produce a similar American Style Burrito scattered around town. My need for the occasional foil-wrapped gut-bomb should be satisfied by them . . . but it isn't. Whatever the crack is that the Chipotle folk put in their food [could it be 'integrity' or even love?] the people crave it. 

On the off-chance an entrepreneurial spirit is reading this, here is a clue: you could make a ba-jillion [technical term, I swear] dollars opening up one of these places in the Haven. The kids need it. And by kids, I -occasionally- mean me.