Food for Thought Report 2.17 - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

We've got a familiar sight on the low performer list this week but as far as top performers go, an alternative to perscription drugs, may also be a healthy alertnative for lunch. Jimmy Fitzpatrick, manager of the Alterntive Food Co. says, "We have organic fruits and veggies and organic herbs and spices in bulk and just foods that are alternative to your traditional foods."

2/17/05 Food for Thought 2.17 Here is a complete list of the restaurants and their violations for the week ending on 2/17/05.

You may know the Alternative Food Co. at 2611 Boston sells supplements and alternatives to perscription medications, but you may not know they've got a small cafe that sells sandwiches and even smoothies. Fitzpatrick says, "We have different smoothies in our restaurant and we have two different types of sandwiches; an avacado and turkey and avacado, and garden burgers and things like that."

It may be a small operation, but they're still subject to health inspections and this week no critical violations make the Alternative Food Co. our first top performer. Fitzpatrick says, "We just make sure everything is datemarked and stored properly and that we have a clean kitchen and always, constantly are checking for expired products."

The Burger King at 2405 19th Street also had a perfect inspection last week, as did the Pour House Sports Grill & Bar at 2812 4th Street.

As for low performers, we've got those too. The Chinese Kitchen at 3715 19th Street had four critical violations this week.

• Rice cooked hours before the inspection was found cooling improperly in a walk-in cooler.
• Another batch of cooked rice was found at 126 degrees. Hot foods must be held at 140 degrees or warmer.
• Rice and chicken were not properly datemarked
• The ice machine, knives and other cooking utensils were soiled.

All critical violations were corrected on site. NewsChannel 11 called to get a comment from a manager, but our call was not returned.

Our second and last low performer is the Denny's at 607 Avenue Q. Denny's was cited for five critical violations.

• Cooked eggs were found at 82 degrees.
• French fries were found at 78 degrees.
• Cottage cheese was not datemarked.
• A handwashing station did not have handsoap.
• Soda nozzles were found soiled.

All critical violations were corrected on site. A manager tells NewsChannel 11 Denny's takes health inspections very seriously and there has been a management change since the last inspection.