Tidbites | Week of Oct. 30, 2014

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CITY COUNCIL MAY SOON EAT BY EXAMPLE 

It is said that you should practice what you preach. That’s exactly what Boulder’s City Council is considering regarding sustainable food.

The Council is considering a motion that will authorize the city manager to sign an agreement formalizing the existence of a regional group known as Making Local Foods Work. This foundation’s goal is to create an interconnected food network in the community to make eating locally convenient and affordable. The group involves the City of Boulder, Boulder County, the Boulder County Farmers’ Market, the Boulder County School District, Naturally Boulder, the University of Colorado, and more.

In light of the idea, City Council member Andrew Shoemaker suggested that the City Council lead by example. Shoemaker would like to begin by sourcing the City Council’s meals locally — and the city clerk has agreed to look into the possibility.

“If nothing else, it sends a message,” Shoemaker tells BW. “If we purchase locally, we will also know how our food is treated. Are they using GMOs? Are they mistreating animals? Until people start doing it, we are not going to see any change.“ — Nadia Mishkin

PUTTING THE BOO! BACK IN BURRITO 

If parties, contests and the spirit of the holiday itself don’t inspire you to throw together some sort of costume, you might just be one of those grinches of Halloween.

But Chipotle is throwing you one last bone to get a little creative and put on a disguise at least for your lunch hour: the annual three dollar “BOOrrito” special. The deal offers three dollar burritos, bowls, salads, tacos or kids meals on Oct. 31, provided you’re in costume. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, which provides funding to organizations committed to creating a sustainable, healthful and equitable food future. Chipotle says that costumed customers have helped raise more than $3 million for the group over the last three years. So whether you actually like dressing up for Halloween, or just can’t say no to a three dollar burrito, don’t miss this once-ayear deal at any Chipotle location. (Hint: there are five Chipotles in Boulder County.)

— Nadia Mishkin

SOON TO BE JUST PETE’S?

Illegal Pete’s is having a rough news week.

The local burrito peddlers are about to launch a new storefront in Fort Collins, and to move their hilltop Boulder location across the street to the space that used to house Abo’s Pizza, a cherry move indeed since it’s right across from The Fox Theater.

But instead of talking about that, we vultures in the media are pouncing on the scandal: the name.

Last week, The Coloradoan reported that some Fort Collins residents said that the name Illegal Pete’s is offensive to Latino members of the community. Owner Pete Turner was taken aback, and is taking the comments into strong consideration.

“If people feel a certain way, we respect that,” he told the Times-Call. “It’s a total bummer, but it’s a business decision.”

Turner has said that Illegal Pete’s was the name of a bar in a novel he read in college, and his name is Pete. However there are several locations that feature decorative photographs of Latino’s working in the kitchen with their faces censored by a white strip that reads “Illegal Pete’s.” There’s no denying the name’s allusion to the connection between Mexican food in the U.S. and illegal Latino immigrants working in the kitchen, but Turner didn’t mean to offend anyone. He hopes to calm the concerns of offense by letting people get to know his company that so many have come to love in the area. It has been reported that he expects to make a decision on the name in the next week.

— Nadia Mishkin