Last week, three South Florida kitchens were ordered shut by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
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At the top of the list is Express Caribbean Restaurant in North Lauderdale, which has now been ordered shut three times in less than a year.
This latest closure on June 4 came after inspectors found rodent droppings scattered across food storage and prep areas, including inside a mop sink and on shelves near cooking stations.
Household-grade pesticide was also spotted on a kitchen shelf, and a stop sale was issued on pickles stored overnight in a broken cooler.
In Hollywood, Corporate Chef (Catering) was also shut down on June 4 after inspectors counted more than 30 live flies on food containers, prep tables, and even on the inspector’s own tablet.
Unsafe food handling practices were documented as well, including shell eggs left out at 72 degrees and improperly cooled turkey.
In Sunrise, a McDonald’s location was ordered shut on June 2 following an inspection based on a complaint that revealed flies in the kitchen, dining area and bathrooms, an overflowing dumpster, and a dirty men’s urinal coated with debris.
All the places mentioned were allowed to re-open following an ordered cleanup and then a re-inspection.
Notably, no kitchens or restaurants in Miami-Dade County or the Florida Keys were ordered shut again last week, a trend that continues to raise eyebrows given the sheer number of establishments in those areas. It simply makes no sense. We have reached out to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for comment on this anomaly.
**EXPRESS CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT
1401 S. STATE ROAD 7
NORTH LAUDERDALE
ORDERED SHUT 6/4
18 VIOLATIONS FOUND
ALSO ORDERED SHUT 8/8/24 (RODENT ISSUES)
ALSO ORDERED SHUT 7/16/24 (RODENT ISSUES)
“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed 8 rodent droppings on storage shelf underneath bag of jasmine rice. Observed 2 rodent droppings on the floor in storage room off kitchen Observed approximately10 rodent droppings in mop sink next to three compartment sink. Observed approximately 10 rodent droppings on shelves on cook line, Observed 4 rodent droppings on the floor next to freezer chests in back storage room. Observed 6 rodent droppings on the floor in front of 2 door glass beverage cooler at front counter.”
“Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Observed can of hot shot ant and roach spray on top shelf in kitchen.”
“Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed pickles 65F in a non-functioning flip top cooler ambient temperature 60F per employee held in cooler overnight.”
“Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed cooked pork 39F-41F sitting out at room temperature in kitchen.”
“Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense flour and rice food.”
“No soap provided at hand wash sink. Employee bathroom in storage area Public bathroom.”
**CORPORATE CHEF(CATERING)
6634 STIRLING ROAD
HOLLYWOOD
ORDERED SHUT 6/4
6 VIOLATIONS FOUND
“Live, small flying insects found 30+ live flies landing on packaged turkey snacks and juice containers inside 4 open food containers used to carry delivery, on prep table at cookline . 1 live fly on the door of cheese cooler at cook line. 1 live fly landing on inspector iPad. 1 live fly on a box of baby carrots in dish area.”
“Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Shell eggs not immediately placed in refrigeration maintaining an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less upon receipt. Shell eggs 72F, on kitchen counter. Operator stated eggs were delivered one hour ago and no temperature of the eggs was taken. Eggs are out of temperature for unknown length of time. Eggs were left out at room temperature on kitchen counter.”
“Time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from ambient temperature to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within four hours. See stop sale. Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. Turkey 7:30am (56F-59F - Cooling); turkey 8:36am (46F-50F - Cooling) ambient cooling since 4:30am.”
**MCDONALD’S
10910 WEST OAKLAND PARK BLVD.
SUNRISE
ORDERED SHUT 6/2
INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT
5 VIOLATIONS FOUND
“Accumulation of dead or trapped birds, insects, rodents, or other pests, in control devices. Approximately 10 flies stuck on Orokin fly trap.”
“Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 1 flying insect on wall in men’s bathroom 1 fly on to go food container. 1 fly not touching or landing on anything near cook line 2 flies on dining area ceiling lights hanging above table 1 fly on employee break room table Approximately 5 flies landing and flying around dumpster area.”
“Dumpster overflowing garbage. Dumpster slightly overfilled and can’t be closed completely.”
“Bathroom facility not clean. Urinal in men’s bathroom interior covered with multiple small brown debris cluttering inside of urinal.”