Chipotle.  My favorite fast food restaurant.  Hands down.  Nothing comes close.  Long before I knew about paleo eating I’d stumbled onto the habit, for one basic reason, the Chipotle burrito bowls and wraps are simply way too much food.

Forget hot dogs, I want to see how many burritos Kobayashi and Chestnut can handle in a food eating contest.  Eat one full burrito and you’ll be ready for nap in about an hour.  I made the mistake once or twice and wisely converted to the salad bowl.  All wrapped up, a burrito looks about the size of Civil War canister shot.  Mind you – they say your stomach is roughly the size of your fist.  

I’ve perfected, yes perfected, my Chipotle experience a bit further by dropping the black beans.  I also frequently eat Chipotle when breaking a fast.  Its filling enough that I won’t look elsewhere for more food after eating. 

Here’s my suggested order:  Step one, skip the rice and ask for a salad.  Step two, ask for vegetables instead of beans.  Add protein, you get a choice here.  Salsa? Yes. I order the mild and ask for the medium or hot on the side.  Corn? No.  Cheese?  perhaps a little.  And if you ask for “just a little” they will actually give you just a little.  Otherwise feel free to say no.  Guacamole?  Heck yeah.  Awesome. “Even if the Guac costs extra,” she asks?  Of course. I question why they can’t just swap that big pile of rice for guac for free but deep down I’m so happy I’m getting guacamole.  Today is my day.  I think the sun is a little brighter today.  Skip the dressing, its full of sugar and you’ve already got the guac and the extra side of salsa anyway. 

Just over $10 if you order a drink instead of water.  Bring on the iced tea.  

If ordered this way you won’t be hungry for a while.  But you won’t be ready for a nap under your desk, Costanza-style, either.

 If you go to the Power Plant location in Baltimore’s inner harbor, be nice because that’s my regular stop.