FeedSuddenly, grilling is illegal in Peoria … for restaurants
June 30, 2006 in The Wire
The following is the text of a memo sent to “licenced food facilities” from Don Cavi, director of environmental health for the Peoria City/County Health Department on June 21:
“With the warmer weather upon us, many food facilities, possibly including yours, have started to grill foods outside their licenced existing establishments. Please note, the current food ordinance does not address outdoor grilling, and therefore, this department is requiring facilities that grill outdoors to cease conducting such activities after July 16, 2006.”
The memo ends with a telephone number recipients can call for more information.
Background: Don Cavi, in all fairness, has earned an amount of respect from restaurateurs during the relatively short time he has been in this position. When he arrived, my sources say, the health department was enforcing some rules in way that left some folk scratching their heads, once requiring three hand washing sinks in a kitchen small enough for only two cooks, for example. Cavi applied some common sense to enforcement.
My two cents: At first glance this seems to be a case of “that which is not allowed is forbidden.” Instead, shouldn’t the lack of an ordinance addressing outdoor grilling prevent PCCHD from trying to regulate it? Restaurateurs, however, are wary of complaining publicly about anything the health department does, lest they find themselves failing inspections that they had no problems passing before.
I am not arguing against regulation, in this case. It seems reasonable that the government should apply standards to the restaurant business and perhaps should be able to check food and cooking temperatures, as well as general cleanliness, even for outdoor grilling.
But a blanket ban? That makes little sense, especially considering that it’s been going on for years.
Any yahoo in the county can haul out a cheap charcoal grill and cook up burgers and BBQ chicken for the entire neighborhood. But when an experienced cook — trained in food preparation — does the same thing on professional grade equipment, it’s not safe because their’s no regulations expressly permitting it? That has me scratching my head.
June 30th, 2006 at 10:30 am
I have always felt peoria was a weird town. Now I know it is. It must be something in the “sewage” water or the “ADM” air.
Governments are out of control!
June 30th, 2006 at 10:40 am
will this shut down the food carts, most grill outside?
June 30th, 2006 at 10:54 am
does this mean the taste of peoria is done?
June 30th, 2006 at 10:55 am
what about rib-fest?
June 30th, 2006 at 11:52 am
How many restaurants would be affected? Maybe I don’t get out enough, but I can’t think of any that cook outside. Although it’s common in some parts of the country, I don’t think any of bar-b-q joints around here do. Any of the bars?
Please enlighten me, because I can’t think of any. Certainly exemptions would be given for special events and pushcarts, right??
June 30th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
I drive by 7 in Peoria Heights most weekdays, and they’ve had a grill sitting out front for weeks. I assume they use it, but since I drive on that side in the AM only, no one is there yet. Never thought to look for it in the afternoon.
He did say they must cease after 7/16 - maybe the PCCHD can cook some kind of regulation up by then? Ha ha. Pun intended. But I doubt it. Bureaucracy being as slow as it is in the US…
June 30th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Many bars do it for weekend events. Places like Alwans and Echo Valley Meats do it for lunch during the week. Grocery stores do it.
Usually it is for special events, except for the push carts.
Still, I don’t see why it should be banned.
July 1st, 2006 at 1:08 am
Cara, that grill more than likely belongs to Cyd’s Deli. They grill food during the day. It’s locked up to the post.
July 1st, 2006 at 5:40 am
Pushcarts are supposed to be inspected by the health department.
You can get a temporary permit from the health department for outside events. They come and inspect and issue you your 1,2,4, etc. temporary food license on the spot.
I’m sure some yahoo did something stupid in front of a health inspector and now it is going to affect everyone.
July 1st, 2006 at 7:44 am
I know this for a fact: If you complain about an health inspector or the way an inspection went, you will fail all your next inspections and you will be double inspected.
July 2nd, 2006 at 7:29 am
I typed my previous response a bit too quickly before I left for work yesterday. One can get a 1-7 day temporary permit from the health department. It is no big deal, I’ve done it several times. They just come out and inspect the premises (indoor or out), you pay your $35 fee and you’re in biz. The “rules and regs” are a bit different, but those are explained along with the application, if one bothers to read them. That covers the Taste and other events of the nature.
I can see both sides of this coin. Your health department license covers what goes on inside the restaurant, except they will check on your dumpsters on occasion. As an establishment is SUPPOSED to have a person on premise at all times when food is being prepared that has passed the Food Safety Sanitation course, they should know this. I don’t see the problem with outdoor grills if all sanitary guidelines are being followed and it clamps down on the little guy trying to make a buck vs. the corporate giants out there. But as I said in an earlier post, some yahoo..
As for complaining about health inspectors. Emtronics, either someone you know or yourself had a bad experience. I’ve done my share of complaining to the PCHD and have never received a score lower than a 90, I have 2 coveted 100 point inspections and numerous 95-98. (The two 98s were due to the top of the knife rack being dusty and the second was for an unlabled salt shaker was on the line…if you didn’t think those didn’t garner phone calls….) I could write a large tirade about dirty kitchens and inconsistent health department inspections, but that isn’t the point of this post, so maybe I’ll do it on by blog.
July 3rd, 2006 at 3:35 pm
Food licenses can be obtained from the Health Department for any event such as the Taste, HOI Fair, etc. They vary in fees but can be obtained for 1 day up to 14 day licenses. The downtown pushcarts are not affected by this memo, it pertains to licensed food establishments and the pushcarts are their own separate category. (Which by the way, are not functioning as requried by Peoria County Code…) Many facilities do grill outside…more than one would think (incl. nursing homes.) Rather than jump to quick conclusions on the subject, why not call the Health Department and ask about the regulations?