So, you may know that the state bird of Arizona is the wren. You probably also know that the saguaro blossom is the state’s flower. There are even some state fact experts who most likely know that the two-tailed swallowtail is considered the state’s butterfly.
Do you know about Arizona’s state salad? Yes, the state has one, and what is even more interesting is that this side dish has its very own public relations team made up of online PR program degree graduates. Yes, this is true, and do you know the name of the salad?
Many Arizona residents were not aware of this fact either, and many of them think that is both embarrassing and silly. They believe that this ‘state salad’ idea was conjured up by a group of online public relations degree professionals who had nothing else to do. However, the salad has a devout group of supporters who are ready to add this dish to the state’s website.
Here is the big reveal. The state salad is formerly known as the chopped salad that was popularized by two restaurants, The Gladly, and by Chef Bernie Kantak from the Citizen Public House. This is a salad that is eaten quite often by locals and tourists alike, and the recipe is readily accessible to anyone who wants to recreate it at home. But, should it really be a state salad?
Few say that the only thing worse about this salad, besides the fact that there is really a public and grassroots effort to get it named as the state salad, is the acronym that is being used to rename the salad. This salad, the one that was first created by Chef Kantak while he was head chef at the Cowboy Ciao more than two decades ago, is now being referred to as The OMFG Salad.
This popular combination of sliced baby arugula, corn and smoked salmon arranged in vibrant colorful layers may have an inappropriate acronym for its name, but in this case, the acronym is appropriate for sensitive ears. The OMFG Salad stands for Original Mixed – Feel Good. This acronym further embarrasses many Arizona residents about the entire ‘state salad’ concept.
Despite the embarrassment and outcry from some residents, Kantak, and Andrew Fritz, his business partner, have sold almost 800,000 of the salads in 2016. In fact, the salad is the inspiration Kantak and Fritz have been waiting for to start their own restaurant chain. They want Arizona residents to give them suggestions as to where some of these franchise restaurants should be located.
Visitors can enter their suggestions on omfgsalad.com, and give the owners, Kantak and the online PR program graduates insight to help make this restaurant chain number one in Arizona.
Entries will be accepted until the middle of April 2017, and shortly after expect to see these restaurants begin to appear all over Maricopa County. Until then, if you want to taste this state phenomenon for yourself, stop by the Citizens Public House and ask for the chopped salad, or the state salad or the OMFG salad. Every name reverts to the same salad.