The Arizona legislature may soon be deep fried.
There is a drive to make the chimichanga the official food of Arizona. So far, more than 1,300 people have signed a petition in support of this decision. A seemingly Mexican dish may soon be named Arizona’s state food.
Two Arizona-based restaurants, Macayo’s and El Charro, claim to have invented the chimichanga sometime in the middle of the 20th century. While each claims to be the real inventor, the two restaurants put aside their differences to accomplish this common goal.
While the initial reaction to this idea at the state Capitol was unsure, one legislator said, “This isn’t ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’” it is not unthinkable that legislators could rally behind this idea and a bill could gain traction.
Voters always complain of backroom deals in exchange for votes on important legislation, but this time it could create a new scene at the state legislature. Rather than giving legislators money, they will be giving them delicious food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Senator. You weren’t in on the deal? Here’s a plateful of chimichangas. Thanks so much for your vote,” food lobbyists will say.
Legislators will disregard the manners they learned in elementary school and respond with a mouthful of chimichangas. (If they can’t play nice over legislation, what makes you think they know their table manners?)
Some might ask why this is necessary. Our simple response is that amid all the budget cuts and depressing immigration bills, we need some good news and a reason to celebrate. If making the chimichanga the state food is the only way we can throw a party, then so be it.
Ain’t no party like a chimi party. If this becomes the official state food, when we attend receptions and protests at the state Capitol may serve the chimichangas in reverence to the great Grand Canyon State. Maybe this will get more people involved in the community.
Who knows, maybe chips and salsa will soon be required in all high schools, then huevos rancheros will be served on all school field trips. Childhood obesity be damned.
Also, it will join our other state symbols such as the bolo tie, which is the state neckwear, and the petrified wood, the state fossil.
Other states have state foods already, so it wouldn’t be abnormal. Massachusetts, for instance, has an official state muffin, bean, dessert, cookie and donut. But we don’t need to do everything in excess like the liberals in the Bay State. One state food will do.
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