Two Recent Mentions of Chipotle

Fans of mongo burritos know Chipotle, that healthier, ethnic ex-cousin of McDonald's. Recently, they've been mentioned twice locally that I've seen:

1) Nancy Ngo mentions in this week's PiPress Restaurant News that Chipotle has "switched to using 100 percent naturally raised meats in all of its Minnesota restaurants. The company has been using naturally raised pork and chicken. Now, even the steak fajitas are made with meat from animals fed vegetarian diets and are free of antibiotics or added hormones." Bravo!

2) Two "middle aged skeazy dudes" on the 16 bus on Washington Avenue apparently have come up with what Overhead in Minneapolis feels should be Chipotle's new slogan. I actually think Chipotle burritos are bigger than the object in question, but having never seen said object, it's merely a guess.

Investigation of Former US Atty Rachel Paulose Hits Roadblock - The US Justice Dept.

According to the PiPress, the investigation into allegations of mismanagement by former US Attorney Rachel Paulose has hit a roadblock: the US Justice Dept is blocking access by the special prosecutor appointed in the case. Eric Black has the details at MinnPost. They are also apparently stonewalling on the investigation into the politically-motivated firings of 8 other US Attorneys. Former US Attorney Tom Heffelfinger was apparently on the list to be fired before he resigned.

To steal a quote from a Jack Nicholson movie character: When I assess the Bush Administration, I just think of how a normal governing administration would be run, then I take away reason and accountability.

PiPress List of New Restaurants Coming in 2008

Lots of new dining opening in 2008, according to this list from the PiPress. Of note: the former Old Chicago space in downtown Minneapolis will be a (wait for it) sports bar, run by the Loop Bar & Restaurant guys; Indio, another Hector Ruiz production (he of El Meson and Cafe Ena); and, on a hyperlocal note for me (a Longfellow resident), "St. Paul-based Capital Growth real-estate company is looking for restaurant tenants for Longfellow Station, an apartment and retail development across the street from the light rail on the southeast corner of Hiawatha and 38th (pdf). The company has turned down national chains, including Buffalo Wild Wings, says broker John Chirhart. 'We want it to be a neighborhood place.'"

Not Funny: Acme Leaving Mpls, Moving to St. Paul?

Nancy Ngo reports on the Eat blog at the PiPress that Acme Comedy Company is in serious discussions to leave its Warehouse District basement digs and move into the former Fhima's space on Wabasha in downtown St. Paul.

I think this would be a disaster for them, as a significant portion of their audience comes from University of Minnesota students -- many of whom may not be interested in making the trek to downtown St. Paul. The sad story of downtown St. Paul is that it has been a nightlife dead zone for decades, and without an abundance of other nightlife venues nearby for after-show partaking, there may not be enough there there.