Food for Thought Report 5.17 - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

The Home Plate Diner at 5712 82nd Street hit another home run when health inspectors threw them a curve ball with a surprise health inspection last week. With no strikes in this game Home Plate got a grand slam, "We enforce strict cleaning habits. We always want to put the safety of our customers first," district manager Alex Abriz says.

You're safe when sliding into this local chain, they have a little bit of everything to choose from, "With burgers, chicken fried steaks, we have breakfast with nice menu items, nice snack items for kids, salads, we kind of target all customer base," Abriz adds.

Food for Thought 5.17 Here is a complete list of the restaurants and their violations for the week ending on 5/17/07.

Now to our low performers.

El Jalapeno Restaurant at 5001 I-27 was cited for seven critical violations.

• Cold foods were above 41 degrees.
• Employees did not wash their hands before putting on gloves.
• An employee did not wear gloves while cutting vegetables.
• Raw beef stored over lettuce posed the risk of crossed contamination.
• There was no soap at a hand wash station.
• The facility did not have the correct type of thermometer for thin foods.
• An ice scoop was stored on top of the ice machine.

Management says all violations have been corrected. The report shows all but one was corrected during the inspection.

Next we head to Pete's Drive-In at 4156 34th Street where inspectors also found seven critical violations.

• Chili had to be thrown out after it did not cool properly.
• Several food items were held as high as 51 degrees. They must be 41 degrees or colder.
• Certain foods were stored longer than health standards allow.
• Water was leaking under a hand sink.
• The facility did not have the correct type of thermometer for thin foods.
• Several food contact surfaces were soiled, including: soiled bowls stored with clean dishes and a soiled cutting board.
• The facility does not have a Heimlich chart.

Management says all violations have been corrected. The report shows three were corrected while the inspector was there.

And finally Fuddruckers at 5501 Slide Road had eight critical violations.

• Multiple food items inside a walk-in cooler were above the 41 degrees. According to the report, the walk-in unit was holding at 51 degrees.
• Employee's uncovered drinks were found on food contact surfaces.
• Chicken and cheese did not have an expiration date.
• Toxic items were not labeled.
• The dish washer was not properly sanitizing dishes.
• The facility did not have the correct type of thermometer for thin foods.
• Several plates and bowls were chipped and a can opener was soiled.

Management says all violations have been corrected.