Story Created:
Jan 17, 2008
Story Updated:
Jan 18, 2008
Dirty Dining: El Jalapeno
Courtny Gerrish
MILWAUKEE - A restaurant owner busted for health violations before. Now he's facing more problems but at a different place to eat.
El Jalapeno is near 13th and Lincoln. The cook and other employees were washing their hands, without soap. Employees were also touching customer's food with their bare hands. Inspectors ordered them to use gloves or tongs. There were also moldy tomatoes in the kitchen.
In August of 2006 we visited El Jalapeno on 21st and West National. Same owner, different location. This place had 13 health violations. Things like employees not using soap and food kept too warm. They even locked the front door on us.
Back at the 13th street location, inspectors found pans of cooked meat sitting out uncovered. Food not being kept cold enough. Grease, soil and food debris on kitchen equipment. The restaurant was ordered to clean the kitchen. There was no expiration date on cooked food. Raw food was also stored over uncovered ready to eat food, like tartar sauce.
The owner was not there when we stopped by; he did not get back to us about his restaurant's violations.