junkiegymnast
07-16-2007, 11:16 AM
<div style=" font-family: Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 16px;">The Salsa Challenge</div><br />
<table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style=" font-family: Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">
<tr valign="top">
<td width="520"><div style="font-size: 20px; padding: 5px 0px 5px 3px;"><b>Chipotle - left Qdoba - right</b></div><img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/salsaa_all_vert.jpg" width="500" height="780" border="0" /></td>
<td>
<div style="font-size: 20px; width: 100%; text-align: right; padding: 5px 3px 5px 0px;"><b>Qdoba - left Chipotle - right</b></div>
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/guac.jpg" width="350" height="169" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>Guacamole</b> - Though similiar the two guacamoles are different.<br />
Chipotle's guac is definitely chunkier, and the red onion is more prevalant and crunchy, the cilantro was also chopped finer.<br />Qdoba's guac obviously is smoother, has less red onion, and larger pieces of cilantro. The dont come from the same place.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<div style=" background-color: #CCC; height: 1px;"></div><br />
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/corn_salsa.jpg" width="350" height="171" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>Roasted Chili Corn Salsa</b> - VERY VERY similar. The names are identical (eept that Qdoba spells chili, cile. maybe they are talking about the country?). All of the components are the same with the exception of poblano peppes in Chipotle's (if they are in there i couldnt find em). The taste was very similiar as well. Chipotle's corn was crunchier and brighter, looked and tasted crisper and fresher.......I do not think these came from the same source, though the recipes were virtually identical.<br /><br /><br /><br />
<div style=" background-color: #CCC; height: 1px;"></div><br />
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/red_salsa_2,1.jpg" width="350" height="315" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>The Red Salsas</b> - The Red Salsas are drastically different! Chipotle's red salsa is a Tomatillo-Red Chile. It looks smoother, and many more chili seeds. The heat level is probably around medium. It is a very basic salsa, you can really taste the red chili...it is very clean.<br />Qdoba's Salsa Roja is a tomato salsa. with jalapeno, roasted tomatoes, garlic, cumin, and spices. It has more spice, but less heat than Chipotle's.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<b>Fiery Habanero Salsa</b> this is the hottest salsa from Qdoba. We cant really compare this directly to any of the salsas from Chipotle. It is tomatillos, habaneros, and spices.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<div style=" background-color: #CCC; height: 1px;"></div><br />
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/tomatillo.jpg" width="350" height="179" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>The Green Salsas</b> - Chipotle's green salsa is called Tomatillo-Green Chile, and Qdoba's is called Salsa Verde. As far as ingredients the main components are the same, tomatillos, and jalepenos. These are different salsas though. Qdoba's is more chunky, greener and brighter, resembling fresh chopped tomatillos. Chipotle's Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa is much closer to Qdoba's Fiery Habanero than to the Salsa Verde. In color and consistency, not in heat level though.<br /><br /><br /><br />
<div style=" background-color: #CCC; height: 1px;"></div><br />
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/pico_de_gaillo.jpg" width="350" height="175" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>Fresh Tomato / Pico De Gallo</b> - Chipotle calls it Fresh Tomato Salsa, and Qdoba calls it Pico De Gallo. The bottom line is they are the same. Though Chipotle's seemed a little fresher. <br /><br />
<small>Standard Pico De Gallo recipe from Rachael Ray on foodnetwork.com<br />
1 large tomato, cored, seeded, and coarsely chopped<br />
1 white onion, coarsely chopped<br />
2 limes, juiced<br />
1/4 cup chopped cilantro<br />
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
</small>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style=" font-family: Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">
<tr valign="top">
<td width="520"><div style="font-size: 20px; padding: 5px 0px 5px 3px;"><b>Chipotle - left Qdoba - right</b></div><img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/salsaa_all_vert.jpg" width="500" height="780" border="0" /></td>
<td>
<div style="font-size: 20px; width: 100%; text-align: right; padding: 5px 3px 5px 0px;"><b>Qdoba - left Chipotle - right</b></div>
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/guac.jpg" width="350" height="169" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>Guacamole</b> - Though similiar the two guacamoles are different.<br />
Chipotle's guac is definitely chunkier, and the red onion is more prevalant and crunchy, the cilantro was also chopped finer.<br />Qdoba's guac obviously is smoother, has less red onion, and larger pieces of cilantro. The dont come from the same place.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<div style=" background-color: #CCC; height: 1px;"></div><br />
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/corn_salsa.jpg" width="350" height="171" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>Roasted Chili Corn Salsa</b> - VERY VERY similar. The names are identical (eept that Qdoba spells chili, cile. maybe they are talking about the country?). All of the components are the same with the exception of poblano peppes in Chipotle's (if they are in there i couldnt find em). The taste was very similiar as well. Chipotle's corn was crunchier and brighter, looked and tasted crisper and fresher.......I do not think these came from the same source, though the recipes were virtually identical.<br /><br /><br /><br />
<div style=" background-color: #CCC; height: 1px;"></div><br />
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/red_salsa_2,1.jpg" width="350" height="315" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>The Red Salsas</b> - The Red Salsas are drastically different! Chipotle's red salsa is a Tomatillo-Red Chile. It looks smoother, and many more chili seeds. The heat level is probably around medium. It is a very basic salsa, you can really taste the red chili...it is very clean.<br />Qdoba's Salsa Roja is a tomato salsa. with jalapeno, roasted tomatoes, garlic, cumin, and spices. It has more spice, but less heat than Chipotle's.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<b>Fiery Habanero Salsa</b> this is the hottest salsa from Qdoba. We cant really compare this directly to any of the salsas from Chipotle. It is tomatillos, habaneros, and spices.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<div style=" background-color: #CCC; height: 1px;"></div><br />
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/tomatillo.jpg" width="350" height="179" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>The Green Salsas</b> - Chipotle's green salsa is called Tomatillo-Green Chile, and Qdoba's is called Salsa Verde. As far as ingredients the main components are the same, tomatillos, and jalepenos. These are different salsas though. Qdoba's is more chunky, greener and brighter, resembling fresh chopped tomatillos. Chipotle's Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa is much closer to Qdoba's Fiery Habanero than to the Salsa Verde. In color and consistency, not in heat level though.<br /><br /><br /><br />
<div style=" background-color: #CCC; height: 1px;"></div><br />
<img src="http://www.lowel.com/seth/pico_de_gaillo.jpg" width="350" height="175" border="0" align="right" hspace="3" />
<b>Fresh Tomato / Pico De Gallo</b> - Chipotle calls it Fresh Tomato Salsa, and Qdoba calls it Pico De Gallo. The bottom line is they are the same. Though Chipotle's seemed a little fresher. <br /><br />
<small>Standard Pico De Gallo recipe from Rachael Ray on foodnetwork.com<br />
1 large tomato, cored, seeded, and coarsely chopped<br />
1 white onion, coarsely chopped<br />
2 limes, juiced<br />
1/4 cup chopped cilantro<br />
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
</small>
</td>
</tr>
</table>