the day started like any other day - ordered my burrito, filled my cup of water, sat down at the bar, started reading forbes. pretty standard.

then i noticed some folks talking with the store manager about recipes. they were discussing the finer points of the barbacoa shredding process, whether it should be more or less like the process for the carnitas and how much salt should be in different parts of the food. i looked at the guy a couple times and though, he looks familiar.

really familiar, though without the smile it's hard to tell. so i got an opportunity to ask one of the other people working there if it were, in fact, steve ells. "yeah, you recognized him, huh" was the response. well, of course i did.

i wanted to get a photo with him and perhaps an autograph, but didn't want to interrupt their lunch. unfortunately, they wrapped up lunch and went into the kitchen too quickly for me to get in a word. my chance lost.

enter Houman Iskandani

just then i noticed a gentleman walk in who i had seen before at this store, but it never really registered with me. when he came in he said to one of the workers "is steve still here?" and the person responded "yeah, houman, he's back there." oh, ok. so this is Houman Iskandani that they have profiled on their drink cups. two brushes with fame in one day.

so, a little later i got an opportunity to meet him, chat with him, and get a photo with him. he's a real nice, ordinary guy. and seemed to be enjoying the slight celebrity status that he has now. in case you don't know him, here's the text from the cup:

People We’re Pleased to Know, Part 1

In 1984, Houman Iskandani found himself in France, alone, unable to speak the language and uncertain about his future. Sent there by his parents in a life-or-death effort to avoid compulsory military service during the Iran-Iraq war, Houman was 14 years old.

He scraped by, walking dogs and gardening while living in a closet-sized apartment. He sat in the back row of a class of first-graders to learn French. He taught himself first to boil water, then to cook.

By 18, Houman was fluent in French, had graduated form high school and been accepted to college in the United States. A vacation took him to Denver, and the mountains and climate reminded him of his native Tehran. It was there he met and fell in love with Chipotle. We were smitten too.

Now, years later, Houman happily oversees a number of our restaurants. He’s a newly anointed American citizen with a wonderful wife, a home and a dog he walks for pleasure. He has a contagious appreciation for life and a remarkable story he’s reticent to share. Houman’s journey always reminds us where character and fierce determination can lead.