Food for Thought Report 10.7 - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

The Country Plate Diner at 1301 50th Street is doing something right with their home cookin'. Country Plate is our first top performer this week. They can boast a flawless performance on their last inspection.

Food for Thought 10.7 Here is a complete list of the restaurants and their violations for the week ending on 10/7/04.

Mesa Grill can do the same. Located at 6002 Slide Road, the mall spot for lunch or dinner recieved zero critical violations last time they were surpirsed by health inspectors.

If it's a safari you feel like this week, Zookini's at 4414 82nd Street is the place to eat. They also had zero critical violations. Manager, Carol Brown, says, "It's a group effort. Everyone pitches in. We make sure everything stays clean.  We clean as we go... couldn't do it without the whole team." 

There's also one top performing school this week. Wheelock Elementary at 3008 40th Street made the grade. Health inspectors gave them a report card that makes the honor roll.

Six low performers combine for 31 critical violations this week! Let's start off with our first low performer: Lone Star Oyster Bar at 3040 34th Street. Inspectors found:

• Dented cans of green beans.
• Shrimp rice and milk not datemarked.
• A handsink being used as a dumpsink.
• Silverware being washed with 95 degree water and no chemical sanitizer.
• Missing or uncalibrated thermometers.

All violations were corrected on site. A manager tells us they are now keeping on top of those health requirements.

Next let's look at Cricket's Draft House at 2412 Broadway. They're this week's second low performer. Inspectors found:

• Employees using improper handwashing techniques or not washing at all between tasks.
• Personal drinks in the food prep area without lids.
• Cooked chicken and deli ham not datemarked.
• A handwashing station without papertowels and soap.
• A soiled ice machine.

All violations were corrected on site. Crickets' manager tells NewsChannel 11 everything is now up to spec.

Low performer number three is Joe's Crab Shack at 5802 West Loop 289. Joes' was cited for:

• Crabcakes held at 50 degrees. Five degrees above the required cold hold.
• An insect was found in a bottle of banana liquor.
• A spray bottle was not lableled. -soiled knives were found on the kitchen countertop.
• A scrub pad was being stored in a handwashing sink.

All violations were corrected on site.

On to low performer number four: Mister Gatti's Pizza at 5001 50th .

• Cheese was found at 58 degrees and potato salad at 60.
• A baked potato was being held at only 106 degrees.
• A spray bottle was not labeled. -a cooling unit did not have a thermometer.
• Cooling unit covers were stored on the floor and then placed back on the cooling unit without being sanitized.

Everything was corrected on site. A manager says Mister Gatti's has high standards they try to live up to every day.

Just two more to go... our next to last low performer is Moose Magoo's at 8217 University. Inspectors found:

• Chicken and buttermilk mixture above the required cold temperature.
• Hot foods (spinach and wild rice) below the required temperature.
• Improper handwashing techniques were observed.
• Toxic items were not properly labeled.
• Food contact surfaces were soiled.

All violations were corrected on site. Moose Magoo's manager tells us his staff will continue to strive for perfection in sanitization and cleanliness. They hope to be a top peformer next go around.

Finally, this week's last low performer is El Chico restaurant at 4301 Brownfield Highway.

• Cold chopped beef was found at 67 degrees.
• Hot chicken was found at 120 degrees.
• An employee was eating food in the food prep area.
• Milk and beans were not datemarked.
• A spray bottle was not labeled.
• The reach in freezer had no thermometer.

All violations were corrected on site.