Food for Thought Report 11.1 - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

We start at the top with a first time top performer. Open less than two weeks, El Paisano Mexican Restaurant is already serving up perfection. It's located at 1301 50th Street.

Next we head to a bar and grill that's no stranger to food for thought. Cici's Bar and Grill at 1605 50th Street is a top performer.

And if you're looking for a sweet treat, Baskin Robbins at 6301 82nd scoops up a perfect score.

And you can add a cherry to this one too. Sheridan's Lattes and Frozen Custards at 5101 82nd Street wraps up our top performers.

Food for Thought 11.1 Here is a complete list of the restaurants and their violations for the week ending on 11/1/07.

Now to our two low performers.

Maharaja Indian Cuisine at 5130 80th Street is now a repeat low performer. Inspectors cited the restaurant with seven critical violations.

• Milk on a counter was 79 degrees. Cold foods need to be 41 degrees or below.
• Cooked chicken, rice and potatoes were as low as 64 degrees. That's more than 70 degrees below the safe temperature of 135 degrees.
• An employee did not use soap or take off their gloves to wash their hands.
• Food in a walk-in cooler was expired. Other food was not properly date-marked.
• A hand washing sink did not have cold water.
• The restaurant did not have a certified food manager
• The restaurant did not have a digital thermometer.
• Kitchen utensils were dirty.

Management tells NewsChannel 11 that all critical violations have been corrected. According to the report, most were corrected during the inspection.

Our final stop is also a repeat low performer. Josie's #1 at 212 N. University had eight critical violations.

• Several cold foods, including: raw hamburgers, tamales and barbacoa were above 41 degrees.
• Menudo, beef, potatoes and chorizo were not at least 135 degrees.
• Employees uncovered drinks were above food and food contact surfaces.
• Ice was thrown out after black, gray and white particles were found in the ice machine.
• Open toxic items were next to pots and pans.
• The restaurant does not have a certified food manager.
• Multiple food contact items were dirty, including: plastic spatulas and spoons.
• There was no advisory about the consumption of under-cooked eggs.

Josie's says all violations have been corrected. They add that a manager will soon take the test to become certified. According to the report, most of the violations were corrected while the inspector was there.