Local restaurant campaigns for the official state food
Reporter: Stephani Ruiz
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - It's the Check Yes for Chimi campaign.
That's the message Macayo's Mexican Kitchen shamelessly displays to its customers.
Nine On Your Side's Stephani Ruiz asked the restaurant's general manager, Jake Munoz, "How do you think that the chimi represents Arizona and the culture here and what people like to eat?"
"Well it's spicy, it's lasted for a very long time, it's resilient and I think that describes Arizonans perfectly," Munoz said.
The restaurant's campaign is gathering thousands of signatures, hoping to convince state legislature the chimichanga should be Arizona's state food. The fried burrito, now served at restaurants across the country, was invented more than 60 years ago.
"In 1946 our founder, Woody Johnson, accidentally dropped a meat filled burrito in the fryer. And what came out of it was a chimi," Munoz said.
Well, that's what Macayo's claims. El Charro restaurant says its owner invented the popular dish.
Nine On Your Side did not hear back from El Charro about whether it is on board with the Check Yes for Chimi campaign.
As Arizona approaches its centennial anniversary, supporters said what better way to recognize a tradition that originated in our state.
"I hope everybody votes on it and we can go ahead and make this our official state food, you know," Macayo's Kitchen Manager Ernesto Duarte said.
"What would you say if you found out that it happened," we asked Duarte. "I'd be excited. It's a great honor," he said with a smile.
If you would like to sign the petition visit the campaign's website, Check Yes For Chimi, and sign the petition.
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