Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for November 17, 2016

Health Inspector: You have a cracked tile on your wall, Mr Blackstock. It was there last month.Gareth: A cracked tile?Inspector: Just above the skirting board.Gareth: Should I evacuate the building?Inspector: Just have it replaced by next time.Gareth: Just tell me how is a cracked tile going to wipe out my clientèle?Inspector: Bacteria collects in the cracks. Food may come into contact with it.Gareth: Ah, but bacteria may collect in the grout, all over the kitchen. They’ve got us surrounded, these bacteria.Inspector: That’s so, Mr Blackstock. Which is why, as from next year, it will no longer be acceptable.Gareth: What…?Inspector: As from next year…Gareth: You don’t mean they’re going to outlaw grouting?!Inspector: Exactly. Continuous impervious surfacing will be mandatory.Gareth: Well that’s it isn’t it, really? I mean that’s the bottom line. That’s what you people want, all over the planet: continuous impervious surfacing. Only trouble is, if it ever did break, health inspectors would collect in the cracks!Winky Waterman: Gareth Henry Blackstock?Gareth: I am indeed, and I’m in the middle of service. So, if you don’t vacate my kitchen immediately, I’ll serve some warm cheese on a wooden chopping board and you won’t see the morning.

(From the TV show “Chef!”)

The weak point was Gene.

Is there a suggestion of a bribe in our future?

Why the lesson in food service from Jimmy J?Is disillusionment and return to metro life in their future?

The evil of government regulation. It’s not about “health”, it’s about cracking the people.

They may have to buy some food warmers, if they don’t have them already….I wonder what corners they cut?

I don’t see that Gene “cracked”, Mary Lou said enough already.

I’ve dealt with inspectors when I worked in aviation. The important thing to remember is they want two things: no trouble coming down from above and (generally) willing cooperation. There are requirements, we meet them. Life is good.

And it’s true that he should have known. She certainly should have known. It’s not catering when you maintain an establishment. The reason for the difference is obvious. If ever place you cater had to meet restaurant standards, there would be no catering. There are plenty of other reasons. Catering is one meal. They’re operating until the food is gone and doing it without adequate holding equipment. But mainly, if you allow it, then it becomes a common ploy to avoid standards. When you consider what they were trying to pull, the inspector’s being rather nice about it.

They were using the exact same procedures and equipment that would allow them to prepare, transport, and serve serve the exact same food, over a 4 hour period, at a wedding reception 25 miles away,

But, they cannot prepare, transport, and serve the same food 1 mile from their home WITH AN INSPECTED COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, to their storefront shop on the main road. All because of 123.4B.c(1).

my approach too…..jump in a do something…..you can follow the rules later!

Actually, if the food is prepared in a licensed kitchen and then brought on site — and the food it held at the correct temperature (hot or cold depending), there is nothing the health inspector can do — it is the same as catering.

Law is easy if you can read and/or argue.

The deal is that they’re going to have to commit to opening a restaurant instead of doing it halfway if they want to continue this. THAT’S what this is all about, folks… SHEESH!

Sounds to me like this ‘inspector’ is a bit overzealous.

Rule numero uno for any business: Never kill a customer.

The health department inspectors here are really petty. They came to one of our locations and looked all around the operation over and over and couldn’t find anything to mark off. The inspector got down on his hands and knees with a flashlight and looked under all of the counters and found one dead roach. He gave them a demerit on that. A dead roach means your pest control is working. The health department doesn’t take into consideration that a roach could have come in with a delivery. I know I’ve brought some home from the grocery store.

Typical problem with too much government.