The Burrito Bowl Poll: California Tortilla to Pick the Presidential Election

Mitt Romney has , the political convention season is not far off and now the real choice has arrived: Which candidate's burrito bowl do you prefer?

On Monday, Bethesda-born and Rockville-based debuted its 2012 Presidential Burrito Bowls.

California Tortilla Chief Operating Officer and head chef Keith Goldman developed the bowls after researching the candidates’ backgrounds and food preferences, according to a release announcing the promotion. California Tortilla also sponsored a contest in which fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter, as well as subscribers to the chain’s Taco Talk e-newsletter, named the concoctions. They came up with:

• Obama’s Chicken Teriyaki Luau Bowl: Mexican rice, grilled chicken, Teriyaki sauce, stir-fry vegetables, grilled pineapple spears, garnished with chopped green onions and served in a bowl.
• Romney’s Mexican Mitt-Loaf Bowl: Grilled Mexican meatloaf, fresh mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables, a sweet and savory sauce, corn, and salsa garnished with chopped green onions and served in a bowl.

Both bowls come with a toothpick featuring the candidate’s face.

“While Americans get to vote every four years in the ballot box, we also give them the ability to vote with their taste buds,” Stacey Kane, the chain’s vice president of marketing, said in the release. “Truthfully, the stomachs never lie, as our burrito system has accurately elected local, state and national elections in the past, including the very close 2008 presidential race.”

California Tortilla will count the “votes” to predict the winner on Nov. 3, the eve of Election Day.

The food might stir more passion in voters than the choice of candidates.

“Can I get the Obama without it counting as a vote?” a fan asked on California Tortilla’s Facebook page. “Actually don't want to vote for either man but the bowls look delish!”

California Tortilla has locations in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, DC.

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