Fast Casual Giant Chipotle Goes Cruelty-Free!

Over a year ago, Chipotle Mexican Grill began offering a marinated, braised tofu "meat" option which could be substituted for chicken or pork in their salads, burritos, or bowls.  It is SO delicious, by early 2014, I had already taken a few of my carnivore friends to taste it!  

Today, January 26th, 2015, Chipotle offered a Sofritas special:  Purchase one Tofu Sofritas menu item, and get one free burrito, salad, or bowl on your next visit!  Using Social Media posts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, Chipotle Mexican Grill created a plant-based publicity storm around the United States and Canada!

I'm excited about what this means for Vegans who typically have to search everywhere for vegan-friendly options!  Chipotle restaurants are everywhere here in SoCal.  The years of searching for the nearest Veggie Grill, Native Foods Cafe,  Loving Hut, or M Cafe (only in Brentwood, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood now), or calling around to Pho or Sushi restaurants to make sure they are veg-friendly-- are OVER! A plant-based executive fast-casual lunch can be just around the corner at your nearest Chipotle Mexican Grill!  YES! Thank you, Chipotle, for making strides to accommodate plant-based diets for years!

Now that millions of consumers have tried Chipotle's Tofu Sofritas, let's take a look a their Tofu supplier.  Chipotle has always made an effort to source from sustainable and responsible suppliers, and the Tofu is no exception.  

Hodo Soy Beanery, based out of Oakland, California, makes artisanal soy bean products with a strong emphasis on high quality and freshness.  Not all soy is created equal!  

Watch this video to see how much time and effort is put into creating this delicacy.  Hodo Soy Beanery also produces "Yuba" a so-called "Tofu Skin" which I order when I dine at Nobu Malibu, Las Vegas, or West Hollywood.  It is literally the "cream" that rises to the top...the highest quality tofu you can find.  I hope that we will continue to see this type of awareness and consciousness elevating our quality of food to a more compassionate and responsible level.