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Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Would You Eat at Your Favorite Restaurant … If It Failed a Health Inspection?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The vegetable and meat platter at Meskerem, surrounded by injera.
Photo: Jean Shifrin/AJC
My colleague, Elizabeth Lee, sent some alarming news my way this week: two of my favorite restaurants, Meskerem and Taqueria los Hermanos, both failed recent health inspection reports.
Meskerem, on Clairemont Road in Atlanta, is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant. Its score was a very low 56, and the violations were in areas of concern: Proper hand washing ( a 9-point offense), food separated and protected, improper cooling methods and cold holding temperatures. The restaurant’s last passing grade was an 78 in September of 2007.
Los Hermanos, in Tucker, scored a 64. The restaurant’s violations? The new “cup” law — which counts four points and requires employees handling food to have a lid and straw on cups they drink from to prevent contamination, plus proper separation and protection of food, food contamination (spoiled onions and molded lemons) and improper food holding temperatures. The last passing score was 89 in April of 2007.
In addition to the fear of being closed down if scores aren’t lifted, these restaurants also have ethnic and cultural differences that may make learning the new food code (in effect since last December 1) difficult. Do you think that’s fair?
Also, would you continue to patronize a favorite spot if you knew if had a failing health code score?
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Should Blais Have Been Top Chef?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Richard Blais in his element, making cantaloupe “pearls” with liquid nitrogen.
Photo: Becky Stein/Special to the AJC
The mood at Home, the Buckhead restaurant where Richard Blais is executive chef, was upbeat last night during the Top Chef finals — until the final round when it was becoming apparent that Blais might not win.
The Top Chef contestant lost in the final round to Stephanie, and the crowd at Home, though disappointed, was happy that the winner wasn’t the other finalist, Lisa.
This was a 16-week battle to the finish, and Blais proved his kitchen chops on more than one occasion. He was not on-hand last night at the restaurant to comment (he is away doing media for the show).
Did you watch? Are you happy with the final? Or should Blais have won?
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