How I Built This with Guy Raz Chipotle: Steve Ells (2017)
Jan 4, 2021
In this engaging conversation, Steve Ells, the founder of Chipotle and a classically trained chef, shares his journey from high-end restaurants to creating a fast-casual dining revolution. He reveals how a burrito inspired him to start Chipotle and the challenges he faced, including a major food safety crisis. Ells discusses his commitment to quality and the evolution of consumer expectations in fast food. He reflects on the balance of luck and preparation in entrepreneurship as he navigated the brand's rapid growth and transformation.
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Early Cooking Memory
- Steve Ells' earliest cooking memory is from third grade, making scrambled eggs in Germany.
- He meticulously shaped the eggs into perfect squares, reflecting his control-oriented nature.
College Cooking
- In college, Steve Ells hosted dinner parties showcasing his advanced cooking skills, like duck confit.
- His culinary interest developed early, influenced by his adventurous cook mom and cooking shows.
Stars Experience
- During a cooking school internship, Ells worked at Stars Restaurant in San Francisco, a highly influential establishment.
- The experience under Jeremiah Tower, a visionary perfectionist, was stressful but valuable.