Welcome to Deep Dish, our weekly recap of culinary and entertainment updates. Previously, we talked about the dramatic decline of caviar.
There’s plenty to appreciate about Chipotle—though far less than in the past, there’s still much to enjoy. As the fearless journalist (and my collaborator on Deep Dish) Li Goldstein noted in 2023, Chipotle simply feels different now. Prices have surged, and, following a series of food safety incidents, the ingredients are now prepped ahead at centralized facilities. As Li observed in her article, “Chipotle might be safer, but it definitely didn’t become tastier.”
However, while Chipotle’s burritos may have become less sought after, its furnishings, surprisingly, have seen an increase in popularity. Furniture enthusiasts are hunting down used Chipotle chairs for their residences—the natural wood and metal aesthetic is quite unobjectionable, to be honest. Additionally this week: The Wall Street Journal has released more outrageous budgeting tips for us, we bid farewell to Dimes Square, and Test Kitchen editors talk about how to cook with your partner without growing resentful.
Chipotle’s Chairs Are All the Rage Right Now
If you’re anything like me, you don’t step into a Chipotle ready to take in the ambiance—you’re on autopilot, figuring out which protein to choose and how much eye contact to maintain with the person preparing your burrito. You’re likely not critically assessing the furnishings.
Yet, dear reader, while we are weighing the pros and cons of barbacoa versus carnitas, we may have overlooked a decorative wonder: the wood-and-metal chairs found in Chipotle outlets that are rapidly amassing a fervent following on the resale market. One vintage seller is presenting a set of five of these trendy, geometric chairs for the appealing price of a thousand dollars. Who knows? Should Chipotle cease their production, these chairs might appreciate in value, becoming a worthy investment. — Sam Stone, staff writer
Dimes Square is No More (Again) (Yes, Seriously This Time) (Really)
Beloved friends, we have gathered here today to mourn the demise—not of an individual, no—but of a unique microneighborhood in New York’s Lower East Side that was once home to so-called intellectuals, artists, young conservatives, and, indeed, some remarkable eateries and bakeries. In warmer seasons, the area felt almost surreal—the streets closed off to vehicles, sharply featured looksmaxxxers and baggy-panted hypebeasts would mix, enjoying cocktails from Le Dive or Clandestino.
Yet now it appears, due to some permitting misadventures, the open streets vision of Dimes Square has met its end. Or has it been over for a while now? It’s tough to determine—critics have occasionally claimed Dimes Square is dead, it’s reviving, it’s dead once more, and, as former BA staff member Serena Dai penned, we really don’t need to care this much about it anyway. Is this truly, finally, actually the conclusion for Dimes Square? Girl, I have no clue. I’m just hoping this means shorter lines at Elbow Bread. — SS
AITA for Overseeing My Partner’s Cooking?
Many—myself included—have suggested that cooking is one of the most genuine love languages, especially around Valentine’s Day. However, it’s a delicate love language; if done without consideration, a couple’s cooking experience can create more animosity than affection. In a candid Slack discussion led by food director Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit Test Kitchen editors discussed this week the very subject—how they assign duties between themselves and their partners to reduce conflicts, how they’ve cultivated grace and patience, and how children might introduce yet another layer of intricacy to the relationship. It’s a humorous read. A favorite quote from Test Kitchen editor Rebecca Firkser: “I instantly turn into such a jerk as soon as I see him attempting to chop an onion.” —Li Goldstein, associate newsletter editor
No Chicken for You!
Who would have thought that purchasing rotisserie chicken and juice qualifies as “splurging?” The Wall Street Journal, which recently cost its Off Duty lifestyle team their jobs, is now calling out Gen Zers, sending out this criticism on X to those bold enough to consume chicken and juice: “Gen Zers are drowning in student loans and may never be homeowners but are indulging in gut-healthy juices and rotisserie chickens.”
