Leesburg Health Inspections: Flies In Restaurant Kitchen

LEESBURG, VA — Several restaurants around Leesburg and western Loudoun County recorded violations during recent inspections from the health department. Inspectors conducted the most recent restaurant visits between Oct.11 and Oct. 17.

COVID-19 restrictions around the state have disappeared, so health inspectors have returned to conduct most restaurant inspections in person. However, some visits, such as those for training purposes, can be conducted virtually.

Violations at restaurants typically focus on factors that can contribute to food contamination. The local health department can also perform a re-inspection to ensure that possible violations have been corrected.

For every observed violation, the inspector provides a specific corrective action that can be completed to rectify the violation. Sometimes these are simple, and violations can be corrected during the course of the inspection.

Here are the most recent restaurant inspections in the Leesburg area, according to the Loudoun County Health Department.

• Knead Wine, 5 W. Washington St Middleburg, VA 20117
  • Date inspected: Oct. 11
  • Total violations: 1
    • Not all food handling employees have a verifiable employee health policy indicating training of reportable foodborne illnesses and symptoms.
• La Chocita Grill, 210 Loudoun St SE Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 11
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed food stored on the floor in the walk in refrigerator. To protect food from sources of contamination. Food shall be protected from contamination by storing the food in a clean, dry location, where it is not exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination; and at least 6 inches (15 cm) above the floor.
• Gyro Kitchen Express, 241 Fort Evans Rd NE Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 12
  • Total violations: 1
    • Highboy refrigeration unit ambient temperature is 56F. Maintain refrigeration temperature so that Time/temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods are maintained at 41F or below. Outside digital refrigeration temperature reads 48F. HVAC is coming today to reload freon due to freon being low. Person in Charge will contact Environmental Health Specialist to notify that unit has been repaired and that unit is adequate for temperature control (41F or below).
• Kovi Asian Street Food, 1015 Edwards Ferry Rd NE Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 12
  • Total violations: 5
    • Cold hold foods on prep table (cole slaw, corn, kim chi) are not being held at acceptable cold hold temperatures (41F or below). Cold hold time temperature control for safety (TCS) foods at 41F or below to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Follow up item at scheduled follow-up inspection. Person In Charge (PIC) put said foods on ice to cool to 41F or below.
    • Cold holding equipment at prep table has an underneath ambient temperature of 54F. Provide adequate col holding equipment to maintain food items at the required cold hold temperature (41F or below).
    • There are no test strips for quaternary ammonia or chlorine within the facility. Obtain test strips for testing the sanitizers used within the facility.
    • Underneath kitchen equipment, floors, refrigerator/freezer surfaces have a visible accumulation of residue/debris. Maintain food and non-food contact surfaces clean to sight an touch. Follow up item.
    • Employee hand sink is clogged and not draining. Maintain handsink to work/drain properly.
• Stoneleigh Golf Club, 35271 Prestwick Ct Round Hill, VA 20141
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 13
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed at follow-up inspection 3 door refrigeration unit unable to maintain 41F or below. Water placed in the unit for temperature testing was observed at 44F. Facility is currently not utilizing the unit. Ensure equipment is maintained in good repair and proper adjustment.
• Market Salamander, 200 W. Washington St. Middleburg, VA 20117
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 13
  • Total violations: 7
    • Not all food handling employees have a verifiable employee health policy indicating that training has occurred for employee(s) to report signs and symptoms of foodborne illness.
    • Bucket was observed in the employee handwash sink (lower level) inhibiting handwashing.
    • There is an accumulation of black residue on the deflector and the sides of the ice machine.
    • Potatoes (cooked) and raw shell egs that are being held under time as a public health control (TPHC) have gone beyond the 4 hour period that is documented.
    • At point of sale area, refrigeration unit under display case is not working or providing refrigeration. There is no food being stored in this unit.
    • Salmon, in packaging, is being thawed in still water.
    • Salmon, under reduced oxygen packaging (ROP) has not been removed from ROP during thawing.
• Flying Ace Distillery, 40950 Flying Ace Ln Lovettsville, VA 20180
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 13
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed large container of potato salad prepared on 10/5 in need of disposition. Food has exceeded the 7-day shelf life, with day 1 counting as the date the food was prepared.
    • Observed several flies throughout the kitchen. The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled to minimize their presence on the premises.
• Jasmine Cuisine, 110 South Street Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 16
  • Total violations: 4
    • Observed no verifiable employee health policy for current working employees. Food employees and conditional employees are to be informed in a verifiable manner of their responsibility to report in accordance with law, to the person in charge, information about their health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food.
    • At time of inspection, Person In Charge was unable to locate parasite destruction letters for fish served raw or undercooked. If the fish are frozen by a supplier, a written agreement or statement from the supplier stipulating that the fish supplied are frozen to a temperature and for a time specified is needed.
    • Observed several food items prepared over 24 hours ago without a date label in walk in refrigeration unit. Refrigerated ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food prepared and held in a food establishment for more than 24 hours shall be clearly marked to indicate the date or day by which the food shall be consumed on the premises, sold, or discarded when held at a temperature of 41°F or less for a maximum of seven days.
    • Observed working chemical spray containers not labeled with the common name of the chemical. Working containers used for storing poisonous or toxic materials such as cleaners and sanitizers taken from bulk supplies shall be clearly and individually identified with the common name of the material.
• Velocity Wings, 1020 E. Main St Ste E Purcellville, VA 20132
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 16
  • Total violations: 4
    • Not all employees who are food handlers have a verifiable employee health policy indicating that each has been trained in recognizing the signs and symptoms of foodborne illness and reportable illnesses.
    • Gyro meat thawing at room temperature environment. Person in charge relocated gyro meat to the walk in to thaw under refrigeration. Corrected.
    • Thawing salmon in reduced oxygen packaging (ROP) has not been removed from reduced oxygen environment. Either remove the salmon from the packaging or cut a hole in the packaging to introduce oxygen (and remove from the reduced oxygen environment). Corrected at inspection by removing salmon from reduced oxygen environment.
    • Fly trapping tape located above food handling area in kitchen. Install insect control devices so that the devices are not located over a food preparation area. Person in charge relocated device(s) to an area that was not in a food preparation area. Corrected at inspection.
• Schmidt's Barbecue, 14 Loudoun Street SE Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 17
  • Total violations: 7
    • Observed water bottle in hand washing sink in the kitchen. Also observed a wet wiping cloth in the hand washing sink on outdoor covered patio. Hand washing sinks are to be used for hand washing only.
    • Observed potato cutter on the wall in need of cleaning. Leftover food residue observed on food contact surfaces. Ensure food contact surfaces are properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized.
    • Observed cooked vegetables hot holding at improper temperature. Cooked vegetables observed at 126F. Hot hold time/temperature control for safety foods at 135F or above.
    • Observed food items prepared over 24 hours ago without a date label. Food items included brisket and pork. Refrigerated ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food prepared and held in a food establishment for more than 24 hours shall be clearly marked to indicate the date or day by which the food shall be consumed on the premises, sold, or discarded when held at a temperature of 41°F or less for a maximum of seven days. The day of preparation shall be counted as day 1.
    • Observed no test kit to measure Quaternary Ammonium sanitizer used at the 3-compartment sink. A test kit or other device that accurately measures the concentration in mg/L (ppm) of sanitizing solutions shall be provided and readily accessible for use.
    • Observed 3 compartment sink leaking. A plumbing system shall be repaired according to law and maintained in good repair.
    • Observed kitchen floor to be in a state of disrepair. Several cracked floor tiles observed around the 3 compartment sink/ dish machine area. The floor by this area is soft when stepped on. The physical facilities shall be maintained in good repair.
• Lansdowne Heights, 19520 Sandridge Way Leesburg, VA 20178
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 17
  • Total violations: 3
    • A spray bottle with blue liquid inside was observed with no identifying information. When toxic materials (cleaners) are taken from bulk supplies, the common name of the material must be labeled on the working container. Person in charge (PIC) labeled the spray bottle.
    • A wet wiping cloth was found stored on the counter of the cardinal wing serving station. Wiping cloths that are used to wipe down counters must be stored in between uses in a chemical sanitizing solution. PIC removed the wet wiping cloth from the counter.
    • Black residue was observed on the deflector portion of the ice machine. Non-food contact surfaces shall be cleaned at a frequency that precludes the accumulation of soil residues. Clean the deflector of the ice machine.
• CDMX Bar and Grill, 16 E Washington St Middleburg, VA 20117
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 17
  • Total violations: 6
    • An employee health policy (1B form) has not been implemented for food handling employees. An employee health policy is training for the employee in the signs and symptoms of food brorne illness.
    • Paper towels were missing from bar handwash sink. Person in charge replenished paper towels at bar handwash sink. Corrected.
    • Raw meat (beef) stored above a seasoning blend in refrigerator. Person in charge relocated said food below seasoning blend. Corrected.
    • Low temperature dish machine is not delivering chlorine.
    • Raw shell eggs stored on countertop at ambient temperature.PIC had eggs relocatd to refrigeration.
    • There are no chlorine test strips to monitor the low temperature dish machine.
• Hessler Heights, 19540 Sandridge Way Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 17
  • Total violations: 4
    • A quart of buttermilk with an expiration date of 9/23/23 was observed within the walk-in cooler. Milk or milk products must be from grade A sources. Once milk or a milk product surpasses the expiration date on the container, it is no longer grade A. Person in charge (PIC) voluntarily discarded the Buttermilk.
    • 2 large paper containers of raw shell eggs was observed stored over containers of ready to eat (RTE) heavy cream and gallon jugs of lemon juice. Food shall be protected from cross-contamination by separating raw animal proteins from RTE foods. PIC rearranged the items so that the eggs are now stored on the bottom shelf, underneath all RTE foods.
    • 4 quarts of liquid pasteurized egg whites with an expiration date of 7/17/23 were found within the walk-in cooler. Time/temperature control for safety foods that are RTE must be discarded or otherwise removed once the 7 days from preparation/opening has passed. PIC voluntarily discarded the liquid egg whites.
    • A personal cell phone was observed stored at a prep station. Food shall be protected from cross-contamination by separating personal items from foods, food contact surfaces and dry storage areas of food and single use items. Employee removed the phone to the employee area.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• KOVI- Asian Street Food Kitchen
• Academies of Loudoun
• Restaurant at Patowmack Farm (The)
• Banneker Elementary
• Upper Crust Inc of Middleburg, VA (The)
• Little Blessings Preschool
• Blue Ridge Middle School
• Cowbell Kitchen