Chipotle has been busy this week.

Hello World.
This morning Chipotle reposted added an ordering application to the Apple iTunes App store. The app is free and allows “iPhone and iPod touch users the ability to create their favorite Chipotle order, place it at the Chipotle location of their choice, and also pay for their food direct from their device.”
The app serves a useful purpose without even considering the ordering aspect - it helps locate nearby Chipotle locations and provides hours and maps to assist you in shoving 3 pounds of bliss in to your stomach.

Dulles Airport should read 6:00 AM to 9:00PM
If you do decide to place an order the App knows to let you do all the things to your burrito you may wish to do when ordering in the line. In particular, you can order extra meat, combo meats, and add both beans and fajitas to your masterpiece. One problem with this process however is that it completely removes the chance of a magical Chipotle hook-up…. you know what I mean too, like when you order in Spanglish and wink at the burrito wrapper and they smile and somehow neglect to place the $1.85 surcharge ”G” on your foil or when double meat comes at single meat prices…

Sorry, no triple meats however…
Fear not, there is still a chance to tell them to do some kind of crazy bullshit to your meal if you like it that way (to this point the day laborer in Kingstowne who poured a full Budweiser in to his burrito bol before eating it takes the cake). On the last page you can name your order something absurd and place any special instructions such as “Guac on the side, yo” or “set on fire”…

I can only imagine how many PEN 15 orders are made a day
Last but not least, now Chipotle fans can broadcast from their iPhone/iTouch main operating screen that they enjoy burritos enough to necessitate a button that is always within a seconds reach should they need to immediately place an order.
45 minutes from placing my “SYSTEM TEST: Code 002″ order… maybe it will end up being free.

Ever wonder if you can get to the gated terminal area of an airport without a boarding pass?
The inside of the Dulles Chipotle is also a new take on the traditional Chipotle formula. The location encourages eaters to sit (briefly) at highly lit stool seating. This is probably to help move traffic along and fit as many people and their luggage in to the restaurant as possible. Also, new sheet metal artwork adorns the walls and a wood grain ceiling contains noise while it accents and contrasts with the unusual slate colored entrance.

Other staple franchises have found ways to accommodate this… For instance Quizno’s makes sub length toasted breakfast sandwiches for morning travelers. Five Guys lets you top one of their delicious burgers with fluffy scrambled eggs. Even Auntie Anne’s makes Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Pretzel Pockets.
Now, Chipotle is free to simply offer its tasty menu all-day and label it “breakfast” before 10:30 AM but something tells me that they will take a chance on placing an asterisk on the Dulles location and try using the grill for more than just Chicken and Steak. I know how a breakfast version of the overstuffed Chipotle burrito tastes and it’s heaven. One morning a few years back I brought with me a bag of scrambled eggs to the Tyson’s Corner location and they happily spooned them on to my steak burrito. The combination, paired with maple syrup and original Tabasco sauce, lived up to the wet dream of how I had imagined it would taste.
So there is this book that says you should not eat “THAT!” and it shows you a steaming hot pile of gooey cheese fries covered in ranch sauce weighing in at 2900 calories and next to that it will say instead eat “THIS!” and it shows a steaming hot plate of sweet and breaded Bloomin’ Onion weighing in at 2893 calories. (You may have seen this in Men’s Health magazine actually.)




