Mysterious stains on noodles, weeks-old meat and mice traps among Phoenix-area restaurant violations

Michael Braga, Arizona Republic
·6 min read

Maricopa County health inspectors cited three restaurants and an independent living facility for 17 health violations during the week of April 5. The violations ranged from uncovered rodent traps in a walk-in cooler and dry storage unit to pork bellies hung to dry in ambient temperature with fans blowing on them.

According to inspectors, “Drying must be conducted in a walk-in cooler at 41 F or below and foods must be protected from dust and other contaminates.”

A priority violation is a major violation that directly contributes to an increased risk of foodborne illness or injury. If listed in inspection reports, remedies implemented during the inspection are noted.

During the week of April 5, inspectors visited nearly 1,250 restaurants along with other food-serving facilities in hospitals, senior homes and schools. More than 190 restaurants received an "A" rating. See a sampling of the many restaurants that inspectors graded "A" at the end of this article.

5 violations

Rice Paper on 7th, 2241 N. Seventh St., Phoenix

  • A bar employee handled and prepared garnish with their bare hands. The employee had not washed their hands before handling the garnish. The employee was instructed to wash their hands and don new gloves.

  • A container of rice noodles was in the walk-in cooler with an indigo stain on the original white color. Food employees on-site were unable to tell where the stain came from and were unaware of any food item on the menu that stained noodles are used for. The chef discarded the noodles.

  • Cooked crawfish mix, fried tofu, cooked mushrooms, deep-fried shrimp, bean sprouts, chashu pork and cream cheese were measured at 46 F to 49 F in the tabletop cooler located by the cook line. The chef said all of the items were made the day before. Employees were unable to tell when the items were restocked or how long they stood in overly warm temperatures. All of the food items were discarded.

  • Multiple wood mouse traps in the walk-in cooler and dry storage unit. There also were two uncovered mouse traps with brown paste meant to bait rodents. The person in charge said the traps were placed by a pest control service. The restaurant had rodents in the past but was rodent-free for a few months. The person in charge removed the traps.

  • Chemical foam sealant with no lid was stored on a shelf directly above the food prep table. The person in charge removed the chemical sealant.

4 violations

The Park at Copper Creek Independent Living, 901 S. 94th St., Chandler

  • Raw shrimp was stored over cut fruit and produce items; raw sausage was stored over cooked ribs and cooked chicken; two boxes of raw chicken were stored over raw beef roast and raw seafood items; and raw ground beef was stored over raw steak and raw bacon in the walk-in cooler. The person in charge directed an employee to relocate the raw items to proper locations.

  • Yogurt and cottage cheese were measured at 45 F, cream cheese at 66 F, and two containers of butter were measured at 55 F to 75 F in the breakfast buffet ice bath container. The person in charge said all of the items were out for about four hours and were discarded.

  • Marinara sauce and chocolate pudding dated March 22; cooked corned beef dated March 18; turkey deli meat and ham dated March 25; cooked roast beef dated March 4; and a second container of turkey deli meat dated March 19 were all in the walk-in cooler. The person in charge discarded all of the items.

  • Three plates of muffins, dried cranberries, brown sugar and sliced nuts stored in open containers in the breakfast buffet area were not protected from contamination. All items were removed from the self-service area.

4 violations

Best Hong Kong Dining, 1116 S. Dobson Road, Mesa

  • Raw pork bellies were stored at ambient temperature on racks with fans pointed at them with internal temperatures ranging from 58 F to 65 F. The person in charge said the pork was out for less than one hour and would move to the walk-in cooler after drying for another hour. The person in charge was informed that drying must happen in the walk-in cooler and moved the pork to the cooler in plastic bags.

  • Wiping cloths were stored in a bucket of 200-plus ppm chlorine sanitizer when measured with a chemical test strip. Chlorine sanitizer levels should stay between 50 and 100 ppm for effective and safe sanitization. The person in charge emptied the bucket.

  • Liquid plant fertilizer was stored above the prep counter where open food was stored. The person in charge moved the fertilizer to another area for proper storage.

  • Raw duck was stored directly in plastic shopping bags in the walk-in freezer and walk-in cooler. Raw pork belly and dumplings were stored in white trash bags that were not food grade. The manager removed the foods from the bags and placed them in food-safe containers.

4 violations

The Sicilian Butcher, 3151 W. Frye Road, Chandler

  • An employee handled dirty dishes and then clean dishes without washing their hands. The manager had the employee wash their hands and rewash the dishes.

  • Four pans of cooked truffle sauce with mushrooms and cream were cooling in the walk-in fridge at 74 F to 81 F four hours after cooling began. The manager discarded the food.

  • Pans of stock were stored on the cooktop for more than an hour at 97 F and 103 F internally. The manager had stocks reheated to above 165 F.

  • Two cans of stainless steel cleaner were stored on top of the ice machine and a spray chemical bottle was stored on a shelf above the beverage prep area. The manager moved the items to chemical storage.

Look 'em up: Check your favorite dining spots in The Republic's new restaurant inspections database

Grade A restaurants

Phoenix

  • Honey Bears BBQ, 5012 E. Van Buren St.

  • Los Dos Molinos, 8646 S. Central Ave.

  • Di-Vang Cafe, 6025 N. 27th Ave.

  • Sinaloense Antojitos Y Mas, 515 N. 35th Ave.

  • La Botana Bar & Grille, 4344 W. Indian School Road

Scottsdale

  • Adalbertos Mexican Food, 3001 N. Hayden Road

  • Canton Dragon, 10190 N. 90th St.

  • Fogo De Chao, 6300 N. Scottsdale Road

  • Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, 7014 E. Camelback Road

  • Pitch at the Quad, 6350 E. Thomas Road

East Valley

  • Golden Valley, 832 W. Baseline Road, Mesa

  • In the Zone VII, 1925 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe

  • The Greeks Grill, 610 N. Alma School Road, Chandler

  • High Tide Seafood Bar & Grill, 2540 S. Val Vista Drive, Gilbert

  • TC Eggington's, 1660 S. Alma School Road, Mesa

West Valley

  • JiMichael's Diner, 13039 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City

  • Cafe Rumba, 5940 W. Union Hills Drive, Glendale

  • Track Side Bar & Grill, 27806 W. Grand Ave., Surprise

  • The Buffalo Spot, 9897 W. McDowell Road, Tolleson

  • Booty's Wings Burgers & Beer, 13375 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear

Source: Maricopa County Environmental Services

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 4 Phoenix-area restaurants see slate of health inspection violations