Kitchen Cops

It's a whole new way of doing things when it comes to restaurant health inspections. Gone is an old form with 34 points to check. In its place is a new form with 49 points, including 18 critical violation risk factors. And for Valino's at 2206 Carolina Beach Road, it means an even lower score than it earned last month when it received an 81. This time around the inspector marked off for 13 separate violations, including five repeat offenses. Four points off because employees must wash hands when changing job tasks and not use aprons or towels to wipe their hands. Three more because raw bacon was stored next to cakes and cheese in a cooler. And a total of eight points for problems with leftovers not cooled quickly enough and the small deli cooler holding at 50 degrees, which is at least five degrees too warm. A 4.5-point drop from last month to 76.5 for Valino's. And to Ming Yao on South College Road. Three points off because food was found uncovered in the walk-in cooler. Chicken was being cleaned in the three-compartment sink instead of a meat prep sink. Dishes were dirty and wet and stored as clean. And chicken was stored above ready-to-cook items in the walk-in cooler. 86 for Ming Yao. Our first Kitchen Cops high performers list since the change in forms includes just one local eatery. The inspector said Winestyles on Military Cutoff Road in Wilmington needs to get rid of unapproved pesticide. But no points taken away, which means a perfect 100.