Kitchen Cops 10/9/08

Health inspectors found two low performers this week; including a Carolina Beach restaurant that scored so low they shut it down. The new executive chef said he is getting things back on track. When Kyle McKnight accepted the job as executive chef at Tangerine Caribbean Grill in Carolina Beach Monday, he knew he had a quite a chore ahead. “Just walking in here and coming through the backdoor, I knew it would be a challenge,” McKnight said. Just four days earlier, a New Hanover County health inspector paid Tangerine a visit, and what she found was not good. Problems included: - Flies in the kitchen - Employees wiping their hands on clothes, aprons and dirty towels instead of washing their hands when changing job tasks - A need for more storage – A dishwasher and a dishwashing sink with water that was not hot enough - Food stored improperly - Several problems with the temperature of food. In all there were 20 violations for a score of 67. That led the inspector to immediately suspend Tangerine's permit. Since taking over Monday, and inheriting the problems, McKnight said he has worked hard and met with the health department three times to get things back on track. “Coming up with a new menu, resubmitting it to the health department, and ensuring that the health department is comfortable with the menu that is going forward," McKnight said. "All the standards and practices that the health department requires, and then some, due to the severity of the situation here to ensure that the public will be safe. I guarantee that when it comes to the food.” McKnight said the health department is allowing him to order food, which should arrive Friday. After that, it is another inspection to see if Tangerine can reopen. "Hopefully Saturday dinner service we'll be open," he said. If so, Tangerine can expect at least one more inspection in the next couple of weeks. WWAY will keep you posted. Another low score belongs to Charin Thai on Front Street in downtown Wilmington. The inspector found German roaches in boxes of canned goods and at the dish area. Fish was stored in an ice chest on the kitchen floor instead of in an approved refrigerator. Also, dirty utensils and lids were stored on a shelf with clean containers. There were 16 violations in all, and a score of 84. There are three high performers in this week's Kitchen Cops report. Usually a perfect score at Cardinal Lanes North on Market Street in New Hanover County is bowling a 300 game. But this week it's keeping the kitchen clean and scoring two points for workers passing a food safety course and for a score of 102. Up Market Street to Porters Neck where Jersey Mike's lost half a point because gaskets on the reach-in freezer need cleaning. Add back the two-point bonus and a total of 101.5. And finally to Boca Bay on Eastwood Road. A half-point deduction because gaskets throughout the restaurant need to be cleaned or replaced and dust needs removing. The two-point bonus makes it 101.5.