Archive for September, 2010

There is a trend in restaurant inspections away from pass/fail to a A-B-C grade posted in the window. Right now it’s popular in California and New York – popular with the inspectors, anyway.   And so, soon, like with most trends, the New Mexico Environment Department will want to be part of the IN crowd and go to the A-B-C system.  They don’t want to go the the meetings and conventions of their peers from other states and be made fun of – “Are you guys still using that old pass/fail system?  HAHAHAHAHA!”   The coastal departments are changing their system – not because of scientific data showing the A-B-C system improves the safety of the public -there isn’t any – but because doing something different is always better than doing the same thing.

 News reporters and state legislators are always impressed by new programs, all that hard work in putting the new processes in place.  The government workers are demonstrating they are making good use of the taxpayer money and making every effort to improve the safety of the dining public.  And, of course, they will need more money to put the new systems in place. 

 Problem:  A-B-C grading is not a new system.  It’s been in and out for 40 years.  About 20 years or so ago, it was used here in New Mexico.

 Restaurant inspecitions are snapshots in time.  During an hour or two visit, the inspectors note what they see.  It is standard for about one-half of the violations to be corrected immediately.  In my last inspection, for example, the inspector washed his hands and waved his wet hand in front of the ‘touchless’ paper towel dispenser.  Nothing happened.  He waved his hand again and paper towel rolled out.  I was cited for not maintaining a proper hand washing facility.  Now, I don’t have a problem with the citation.  The New Mexico Environment Department inspectors are professional, well-educated, knowedgable and courteous.  The point is I think it’s unfair for that snapshot in time to be posted on the front door/window for several months.

 Now, the inspector wouldn’t give me a “B” for just that but consider this:  a delivery is received at a friend’s restaurant back door, the boxes are emptied and broken down flat, the mechandise is stacked on shelves, the boxes are taken outside for disposal, the inspector walks in, sees some residue on the floor where the boxes were just taken apart and then taken out and cites the restaurant for evidence of rodent infestation.  Now, there was no other evidence in the place.  The area was immediately swept up and cleaned.  If the inspector had come 20 minutes later than he did, there would have been no citation.   Again, no one had a problem with the citation.  The inspector knew exactly what had happened.  The business owner knew.  But, the headline in the newspaper article repeating the public record will say the place is full of rats.

 My real problem is that hurting a going business or embarrassing a business owner in public really doesn’t improve food safety for the public.  I’m sure most of us read “The Scarlet Letter” in school.  Surely, we learned that lesson.

 Let’s work at improving food safety in reality not just perception.

What a great and unusual gesture by the Town of Mesilla to sponsor a Mesilla Business Appreciation Day!

Today, Saturday, September 11, 2010, is that day.  Shop and Dine in Mesilla day.  Hearing Mesilla’s Mayor Barraza speak to a small gathering of merchants and say things like “We understand that your businesses generate the taxes that make Mesilla work” was stunning to everyone in the audience.  And, two trustees of the town were there and did not disagree!  Wow!   Of course, the town didn’t have any actual funds to promote the day and do much more than allow some businesses to set up tents and tables on the Plaza and wish everyone well.  Still, that’s much, much more than anything done in the past.  And, it’s appreciated…with some suspicion but still…appreciated.

Your heard it right….a 44 oz Margarita!!  Zowie!   If you’re going to have a couple of drinks, a couple of margaritas, it makes financial sense to order one of the Double Eagle Grandes!  Plus, to comply with New Mexico Liquor Laws, the concoction is actually equal to two cocktails alcohol-wise. 

Win Ritter, Assistant General Manager and Beverage Guru, felt the call to a giant margarita several months ago.  “I wanted to give our Margarita Menu some pizzazz, some omph, some weight.  So, that got me to thinking about big, big glasses.  I had seen them on the east and west coasts and there are rumors a couple of places in El Paso has them.  But, this will be a first for Las Cruces!!”  Win said.   And his search for the perfect vessel, the perfect prsentations….the perfect glass began!  Catalogs, the internet, contacts in the industry were all checked for just the right glass.   “It took a long time to track down the right glass but I didn’t get discouraged.  I knew it was out there.” said Win.  And finally, in a warehouse in Albuquerque, there it was.  Win knew this was the perfect glass and made the buy!

Of course, there was the experimentation phase.  Testing the recipes for such a large drink….for quality control purposes, of course!!  Hard work but someone had to do it.

So, now Win had the glass and had the recipe, now the training phase began.  Teaching the bartenders who to make a giant drink.  It went surprisingly smoothly and the bartenders picked up on the combinations very quickly.

That meant picking a date to introduce the drink.  Labor Day was approaching so the choice seemed obvious. 

Friday, September 3 was chosen for the auspicious date.   The giant glasses were brought to the bar and immediately caused comments and interest.  One lady said,”Whatever you are serving in that, I want one!”   Our first order!! It was so easy!!  With excitment, we crowded the bar and the bartender began the process.  Matt quickly produced a wonderful looking mixture in the giant glass and presented it with pride to the lady.  She squealed with delight and seemed excited herself!!  She picked up the glass and sipped.  She smiled and said,”Wonderful!”   She went to place the glass back on the bar, dropped it, it bounced, the 43 oz of Margarita sloshed over the rim, the glass tipped and rolled, bounced on the beer cooler, then flew in a lovely arc to the concrete floor where it shattered into several thousand pieces.  Talk about letting the air out of the balloon. 

Of course, we smiled through gritted teeth.  The lady was very apologetic.  We spoke through gritted teeth – “No problem.  No problem.  No frickin problem.”   OK we said the last one to ourselves.

After that first encounter, though, things went much smoother and no one else has shattered a glass yet….come on in and try one. Two is the limit!

Enjoy