Western Exterminator Brings ‘Bug Lunch’ to the Table with Pop-Up ‘Pestaurant’

Western Exterminator Company partnered with celebrated regional restaurant Mondo Taco to show that insects aren’t always pests — sometimes they are delicious. 

On Oct. 8, Western Exterminator and Mondo Taco hosted a pop-up “Pestaurant” in the heart of Santa Monica, Calif., at the center of the 1300 Block on the Third Street Promenade. Passersby were encouraged to sample a wide array of dishes created especially for the event, including “Jamaican Me Hoppy Jerked Seasoned Grasshoppers with Pineapple Salsa,” “Deep South BBQ Beetle Tacos” and “Thai Mai Mealworm Salad.” To top off the menu offerings, there were sweet and savory treats such as “Rice Cricket Treats” and a “Chocolate Goes with Everything” dessert. For each bug dish sampled Western Exterminator donated $1 to the Westside Food Bank. A cricket-eating contest was also held, and Western Exterminator donated $10 per each participant to the organization.

The “Pestaurant” is designed to raise awareness of pests in a fun, experiential way and draw attention to the fact that while they can be destructive and a nuisance, they can also be a low-impact, sustainable and nutritious protein alternative. As consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of their food supply, insects offer an unconventional but intriguing option that has already been embraced by approximately one-third of the world’s population. Western Exterminator’s goal is to generate general mindfulness around insects — both as pests and as a food source. 

“The ‘Pestaurant’ concept is one that we have implemented in a number of cities across the West Coast, and has been very well-received by those adventurous enough to give these unique dishes a try,” said Eric Rimiller, vice president of Western Exterminator. “We are eager to give residents of the Greater Los Angeles area the opportunity to find out for themselves just how tasty bugs can be!”

For additional information on Western Exterminator, visit www.westernexterminator.com. 

Yankee Pest Control’s Murphy Runs in Marine Corps Marathon

Galvin Murphy Jr., of Yankee Pest Control, Malden, Mass., ran the Marine Corps Marathon 2016 on Oct. 30, to raise funds for the Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Fund.

Murphy, a Marine and a combat-disabled veteran who was twice deployed to Iraq, was training for the marathon, which was his first, by running five to six days a week.

The Massachusetts Fallen Heroes was established in 2010 by Boston firefighters, local veterans, Gold Star Families, police officers, and other patriotic citizens. The group is comprised of combat veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and are committed to memorializing their fellow service members who did not return home to their families.

Massachusetts Fallen Heroes broke ground on a permanent public tribute in the fall of 2014 to honor the commonwealth’s brave servicemen and women who died while in service to this grateful nation. Murphy had a close friend, Kyle, who was a U.S. Marine pilot and lost his life in combat. He left behind a wife, daughter and, at the time, an unborn son. For veterans like Murphy, it is important to have a memorial like this where families like Kyle’s can have a place to sit and remember their loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Learn more about Murphy’s fundraising efforts.