Chipotle is Not Fast Food, City Planners Say

THE CHAINS — In preparation for an October hearing date for a proposal to open a Chipotle location in the Garden District, city planners have granted the restaurant chain’s request to be considered a “standard restaurant,” rather than a fast food restaurant. Arguments for the zoning designation included the seasonality of its menus; plans for a smaller dining area, recessed patio, and “halo illumination;” condiments at the tables rather than at a condiment bar; among other things. The zoning designation means that this location could sell alcohol. [UPTOWN MESSENGER]

BOOZE NEWS — The Caribbean Room in the Pontchartrain Hotel has “endless” Champagne for Friday lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Sunday brunch (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). [via press release]

THE CHAINS — Starbucks baristas are bracing for a too-early pumpkin spice latte season. [EATER]

READING LIST — Michael Twitty examines the forgotten history of black chefs in this excerpt from his book, The Cooking Gene. [EATER]

READING LIST —Laura Shapiro’s new book, What She Ate, examines what six famous women ate: Dorothy Wordsworth, Rosa Lewis, Eleanor Roosevelt, Eva Braun, Barbara Pym, Helen Gurley Brown. Susan Stamberg interviews the author. [NPR]

CELEBRITY CHEFS — Actress Carrie Preston of The Good Wife recalls that time she was on a sitcom with Emeril Lagasse. The show, Emeril, which lasted just seven episodes in 2001, was once called “a thudding half-hour of broad nonsense” by the L.A. Times. [TVLINE]