6 Food Joints Fail; Pig Sits In Sink

Jose Morel took three pork roasts frozen hard out of the freezer and dropped them in a three-bay sink to thaw.

Oops. In walked a city health inspector.

He was about to turn on the water, he said. Really.

But his hand wasn’t quick enough on the faucet when city sanitarian Roz Hamilton walked in.

“Three pork roasts thawing in three-bay-sink — missing running water to thaw,” Hamilton subsequently wrote on the inspection form and docked him four points. Added to other violations Hamilton noted, it was enough to prevent his Corner Grocery Store at Lloyd and Exchange streets in Fair Haven from passing its most recent health inspection.

The Corner Grocery Store one of six food establishments that failed the year’s first round of health department inspections, which took place from Jan. 2 to Jan. 10. Thirty-four establishments passed.

“She came at the wrong time,” said Morel, who is taking over the grocery that his retiring father has been running for 10 years. ​“A few minutes later would have made all the difference.”

Later in the week, he demonstrated to a reporter the proper way to thaw another batch of pork chops: with the water continually running, rather than just sitting in the sink. Stagnant water attracts dreaded bacteria; thus the requirement for running water.

“I’m here to learn every day,” he said.

When the re-inspection takes place, Morel said, ​“everything is going to be exactly the way she asked.”

Morel may thaw in two other ways under the health code, a reporter learned from sanitarian Shellie Longo and from Paul Kowalski, chief of the health department’s bureau of environmental health.

Those two other approved methods: Thawing in a refrigerator. Or as part of the cooking process. All this is laid out in the state food inspection guidelines, the city’s inspectorial Bible.

In a moment of personal confession, Kowalski said he had frozen pork chops thawing on the counter at his home. That’s OK at home; it would not be permissible in a food establishment.

When the sanitarian spotted Jose Morel’s commercial roasts simply sitting in the sink without running water, she docked him four points; that number of demerits is reserved for a handful of violations that potentially have immediate and serious impact on public safety.

Kowalksi said his lunch plans included going home to pop his personal chops into the refrigerator for consumption at dinner.

City sanitarians inspect all of New Haven’s restaurants, groceries, bars, and other food-serving establishments between one and four times a year. Establishments that score less than 80 usually have two weeks to make the recommended corrections. The health department can also close a restaurant regardless of its score if the sanitarians suspect an immediate danger to public health.

Following are the results of the latest inspections around town.

The Winners

1/2/2013: Rocco’s Bakery: 432 Ferry St., Score: 83; Dunkin Donuts, 291 Ferry St., Score: 93; Cody’s Diner, 95 Water St., Score: 81; The Water Club-Epicurean Feast, 545 Long Wharf Dr., Score: 81; Wharf Cafe, 555 Long Wharf Dr., Score: 91; Whole German Breads, 105 Hamilton St., Score: 89

1/3/2013: A One On Broadway, 21 Broadway, Score: 87; Thali Too, 65 Broadway, Score: 95; Yale Bookstore (Yale Cafe), 77 Broadway, Score: 92; New Dollar Haven, 488 Whalley Ave., Score: 98; Wok No 1, 876 Lombard St., Score: 80; The New Connecticut Espresso, 1450 Chapel St., Score: 91; Bar-Crown Street Bar, 254 Crown St., Score: 80; Geronimo, 271 Crown St., Score: 86; Rubamba, 25 High St., Score: 87;

1/4/2013: Five Guys Famous Burgers, 75 Amity Rd, Score: 88; Sullivans on Chapel, 1166 Chapel St., Score: 88; Westville Kosher Market, 95 Amity Rd., Score: 84; Westville Seafood, 1514 Whalley Ave., Score: 92; Aarav Foodmart, 1570 Whalley Ave., Score: 84; Royal Palace Restaurant, 32 Orange St., Score: 83; Wireless Caribbean Kitchen, 246 Davenport Ave., Score: 80; Chap’s Grille, 1174 Chapel St., Score: 85; Thali Regional Cuisine, 4 Orange St., Score: 90; Thai Kitchen, 75 Daggett St., Score: 82

1/6/2013: G.R.E.L.L. Enterprises, 500 Ella Grasso Blvd., Score: 90

1/7/2013: Sound School, 60 South Water St., Score: 94; Christopher Columbus School, 255 Blatchley Ave., Score: 96; Ixtapa Taqueria, 63 Lamberton, Score: 96

1/9/2013: Rite Aid Pharmacy #1882, 325 Ferry St., Score: 89; Lacocinita Mexcian Cafe, 177 Park St., Score: 87; Clinton Ave School, 293 Clinton Ave., Score: 94; McDonald’s Restaurant, 280 Kimberley Ave., Score: 85; Dunkin Dounts, 295 Blake St., Score: 95

Six Eateries Need Improvement
During the Jan. 2 to Jan. 10 reporting period the following restaurants failed their inspections:

Brick Oven Pizza
122 Howe St.
Score: 71
Due: 2 weeks

• Overflowing dumpster on site
• Large pile of wood, stumps etc in front of store
• Missing paper towel holder with paper towels at hand sink
• Bare wood shelf above hand sink
• Hand sink and faucet not clean
• Rodent droppings present
• Inside reach-in pizza refrigerator not clean
• Clean all equipment sides, backs,etc
• Doors under and behind equipment not clean
• Food product not covered during storage
• Broken refrigerator gasket
• Broken floor tile
• Missing floor/wall juncture
• Walls not clean, damaged walls
• Thorough cleaning necessary throughout establishment
• Overhead hood not clean
• Wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer
• Single service articles not inverted
• Soiled cardboard in reach-in
• Food product out of original containers not labeled
• Fan, around fan, and ceiling in walk-in cooler not clean
• Shelves in walk-in not clean, rusty
• Bare wood surfaces
• Mop not properly stored
• Ice build up in freezer
•Toxic items not labeled (spray bottles)
• Damaged ceiling, walls, wall plate on electrical missing
• Stained/pitted cutting boards
• No light shield on overhead bulbs
• Rusty filing cabinet in ware-washing area
• Properly store toxic items
• Wall attachments, shelves, window sitll, etc not clean
• Broken window
• Damaged covering on booth seat

Corner Grocery Store
195 Lloyd Street
Score: 77
Due: 2 Weeks

• All hot food in warmer 103 degrees — removed
• 3 pork roasts thawing in 3‑bay sink — missing running water to thaw
• Raw meat under deli case — 50 degrees
• Metal pot without handle used as scoop
• And submerged food bin
• Food worker eating in kitchen
• Deli cooler only registers 46 degrees
• Toilet sink in cellar — not clean
• Paper towels missing n cellar hand sink
• Walk-in floor covered in cardboard and refuse (storing beer only)
• Cardboard lining beverage cooler shelf
• Mop stored on floor
• Many unnecessary items in kitchen and cellar
• Meat slicer not clean
• Storing large pots face up
• Rear yard not clean

Press
932 State St.
Score: 77
Due: 2 Weeks

• Clear hand sink of unnecessary articles, must be for hand washing only
• Inside stand-up refrigerator not clean
• Eliminate all unnecessary articles
• Store toxic items properly
• Stained ceiling tile
• Provide a complete separation of food service articles and no-food service articles
• Broken refrigerator gaskets
• Floors under and behind equipment not clean
• Stained/pitted cutting board
• Inside reach-in refrigerator not clean
• Damaged, pitted walls
• Outside of oven not clean
• Thorough cleaning of kitchen necessary
• Slow draining sink in toilet room
• Holder of spray nozzle not clean
• Stagnant water on bottom of inside of beer cooler
• Strainer on hand sink at bar, hand sink must be used for hand washing only
• Toxic items not labeled (spray bottles)
• Bottles, large glass, stored on floor under bar
• Inside ice machine not clean
• Ice adulterated inside ice machine, bottles stored in ice in ice machine
• No hot or cold water in women’s toilet room

The Cajin Gator
117 Whalley Ave.
Score: 79

• Missing liquid pump soap and paper towels with a holder at hand sinks
• Front of prep sink not sealed
• No back-flow prevention on spray nozzle on prep sink
• Missing thermometer in reach-in refrigerator
• Damaged wall, unfinished
• Holes on prep sink
• Provide chemical test strips
• Store utensils, with handles facing same direction
• Stained/pitted cutting board in storage area
• Bus bins not clean
• Clean and sanitize all new equipment in packages
• Floor/wall junctures missing
• Blinds in door not clean
• Hot unit in front not clean, not clean under
• Toilet paper dispenser missing
• Toilet room must have self-closing doors
• Clean inside all cold holding units
• Cracked floor tiles, missing grout
• Qualified Food Operator — test taken January 7

Clark Pizza & Restaurant
68 Whitney Ave.
Score: 74
Due: 2 Weeks

• Walls not clean, damaged walls
• Chipping paint on cabinet
• Knives/utensils stored between wall and table, equipment
• Floors under and behind equipment not clean
• Fruit flies present
• Single service articles not stored inverted
• Damaged shelf above 3‑bay sink, contact paper damaged
• Shelves not clean
• Broken/missing floor tiles
• Mop not properly stored
• Food product not covered during storage
• Fan, around fan, and ceiling not clean in walk-in cooler
• Milk crates in walk-in cooler not clean
• Raw food stored over cooked/ready-to-eat food
• Wiping cloths not in sanitizer
• Rusty shelves in reach-in
• Refrigerator gaskets not clean
• Missing paper towel holder at hand sink in ice cream area
• Clean inside ice machine, rusty
• Clean inside ice cream freezer
• Dipper well water line leaking
• Broken plastic on ice cream case
• Hot water in toilet room must not exceed 115 degrees (at present 156 degrees)
• Overhead vent grates and ceiling not clean
• Tongs on oven handle
• Minimize food handling, no bare-hand food contact
• Probe-type thermometer not provided
• Food product out of original containers not labeled

Sababa Falafel
21 Whitney Ave.
Score: 76
Due: 2 Weeks

• Toxic items not labeled, properly store toxic items
• Missing paper towels in toilet room
• No cover on trash in toilet room
• Personal items stores with food product
• Eliminate unnecessary articles
• Food product out of original containers not labeled
• Provide a complete separation of food service articles and no-food service articles
• Stove not clean
• Overhead hood and attachments not clean
• Food product/containers stored on floor
• Broken refrigerator gaskets
• Floor not clean in walk-in cooler
• Raw food stored over cooked and read to eat foods
• Tray under hot water heater not clean
• Edges and under/behind equipment of floors not clean
• Missing thermometers in cold holding units
• Outside of dry good bins not clean
• Container used as scoop stored inside food product
• Wiping cloths not in sanitizer
• Mop not stored properly
• Damaged metal on ramp
• Single service articles not stored inverted
• Bare wood shelf under cash register
• Refrigerator gaskets not clean
• Equipment sides and around not clean in front
• Rodent droppings present
• No probe type thermometer for testing food temperatures