Food for Thought Report 7.10 - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

7/10/08

Food for Thought Report 7.10

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"We call it controlled chaos," Chris Tzemos says lunch and dinner rushes are a family affair at his repeat top performer. "A perfect score makes us feel like we achieve our goals in a clean and sanitary restaurant."

Serving Lubbock for more than 35-years, Pete's Drive In at 529 34th Street cooks up yet another perfect score. "It's not hard to keep your establishment clean. It's just simple things like cleaning what employees are suppose to and taking temps of food and everything else," Chris says.

When it comes to the food, Chris says, "The burger. The burgers are the best. Pastrami is also good. Pastrami sandwich."

So still going strong after more than three decades, what's their recipe for success? "Fresh ingredients everyday," Chris adds. 

Our only other top performer agrees. Their motto: "Better ingredients. Better pizza."

Papa John's at 2420 9th Street also delivers a perfect performance.

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Food for Thought 7.10
Here is a complete list of the restaurants and their violations for the week ending on 7/10/08.

Now to this week's low performers.

The Windows Restaurant inside the Lubbock Inn at 3901 19th street had six critical violations.

  • Several cold foods were above the safe temperature of 41 degrees.
  • Sausage and bacon did not have an expiration date.
  • Toxic items were near kitchen utensils.
  • A drink was next to food contact surfaces.
  • The thermometer in a cooler was broke.
  • The stove, microwave and fryers were dirty.

Management was not available to comment, but according to the report, most of the violations were corrected at the time of the inspection.

Next we head to the Texas Café and Bar at 3604 50th Street. Where health inspectors also found six critical violations.

  • Potato salad was not 41 degrees or below.
  • An employee did not wash their hands before putting on gloves.
  • An employee's uncovered drink on a dirty hand sink.
  • The location of a spray wand connected to a sink posed the risk of contaminating the water supply.
  • Bags of ice were thrown out after they were found on the floor.
  • There was mildew inside the ice machine.

Management was unavailable to go on camera, but says all violations were immediately corrected. According to the report, all violations were corrected during the inspection.

And finally inspectors found seven critical violations at Doodle Bug Square 2. The daycare is located at 3309 101st Street.

  • Hot dogs in a zip log bag were moldy.
  • Hot dogs, ham, cheese and other potentially hazardous foods did not have an expiration date.
  • The hose from a dishwasher was connected to a hand sink and draining water in to the sink.
  • The sink was inaccessible.
  • here were no paper towels at a hand sink.
  • The microwave was dirty.
  • There was no certified food safety manager.

We're told all violations have been corrected. According to the report, all except one violation was corrected while the inspector was there.