It's the Ice That Will Kill You!

The Chicago Sun Times has just published an article on the health safety of ice and it's not pretty. More specifically, representatives from the paper obtained samples from 49 establishments (from fast food to five star) and had them analyzed for harmful bacteria at a government lab. The results are a little frightening especially when compared to water from a toilet bowl which was cleaner. (They used a sample of toilet bowl water from the men's room at the Sun Times and found the toilet bowl water had less bacteria than 29 of the ice samples.)

From the Sun Times:

Ice from 11 restaurants or bars had high levels of "total coliform bacteria" -- more than 200 bacteria colonies per milliliter tested. These included:

Applebee's at 7519 S. Cicero

Chipotle Mexican Grill at 10 S. LaSalle
Starbucks at 444 N. Michigan

Asiago Express at 176 N. Wells

Outback Steakhouse at 216 E. Golf Rd. in Schaumburg

Burger King at 6950 S. Pulaski

Caribou Coffee at 3025 N. Clark

Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery at 1 W. Grand

The bar at the Drake Hotel at 140 E. Walton

The bar at the Hyatt Regency Chicago at 151 E. Wacker

The bar at the Sheraton Chicago at 301 E. North Water

To be fair, not all the findings were bad:

*Ten establishments had lower levels of total coliform bacteria -- fewer than 200 colonies per milliliter.
*Nearly all of the ice tested that came from self-serve ice machines had low levels of bacteria or none at all.
*Hotel lobby bars, where ice is often transported by and handled by multiple people, didn't test as well: Three of four bars tested had ice with high levels of bacteria.
* Twenty-eight of the 49 samples showed no bacteria at all.

Oldies but Goodies

I'm about a week behind The Dish and most of my readers in some of this news, but I'm working to get caught up. Here's what I know (which is probably what most of you know at this point.)

India Garden Announces Opening: Various sources are reporting India Garden's new downtown location will be open by the end of August. Look for them right next door to Barcelona Tapas on Delaware just north of Ohio. (No word on the fate of their former location. If the rumors I've heard are true, then their landlord may have his just desserts being stuck with it.)

3rd Botulism Case: Oh, I don't even know why I'm mentioning this, but in the endless recall of Castleberry's canned chili and chili sauce, there's been a third case reported in Indiana. Apparently, either people in Indiana are the only people eating this stuff or the only ones not listening to the recalls. (Yes, I know, there's so much to be said there, but I'm not typing what I *know* you all are thinking.)

We Loved Tom's Bacon: Tom Smith, long time chef de cuisine at Oakley's Bistro, has departed for points south (Branson, MO) and a corporate cheffing gig. Brian Guntz will be the new sous chef. So, long, Tom! We'll miss your bacon!

Three-Course Menu at Oakley's: Also, at Oakley's, look for the return of their popular three-course tasting menu for $29. They tried this last year and it was a big hit. Starting this month, they'll add a nightly three-course seasonal option changed monthly. It's a great way to try some new dishes and enjoy the bounty of summer and fall for a reasonable price.

Sawasdee Doubles in Size! The wall is opened up, the framing in, and Ty says the new addition will be open by the end of next week. In case you hadn't heard, Sawasdee was able to lease the space next door and will be more than doubling seating space since this place is *always* crowded.

Day of Miscellaney

Up Go the Prices at Starbucks, Again: If you, like me, have been noticing that your daily venti bold has been getting more expensive, brace yourself. Starbucks, citing rising milk prices and other business costs, will raise the price of lattes, coffees, and other drinks an average of $.09 per drink. It's the second price increase in less than a year.

Christopher Browne, the old Fox: Loved the piece in last week's The Dish about Christopher Browne, former executive chef at the The Restaurant at the Canterbury, taking over at The Snooty Fox, just off the Monon Trail up by 82nd St. Browne is planning to update the menu with some fresh, innovative dishes and hopes to revitalize the place with entire neighborhood.

Steak and Shake Chili in Cans is A-OK: This is just depressing. There was a recall. Chili sauce and canned chili. Steak and Shake brand is apparently OK, they want us to know. Whatever.

Marsh Holds Downtown Hostage? Marsh has asked the city for $50,000 in tax abatements to renovate the downtown O'Malia's (to the tune of $1.5 million). As much as I'd love to see that store renovated, do you really think Marsh needs $50,000 of city money to do it? They're not expanding the space or adding employees. Proposal goes to hearing next month. Via Property Lines.

Update: Marsh has dropped its request for a tax abatement for renovations on the downtown O'Malia's. Via Cory at Property Lines

Food Poisoning Alert

Knowing how many of you use the canned chili sauce from Kroger, I wanted to help get out the word. Four cases of botulism -- the first reported from commercially canned product in 20 years -- have been reported, two in Texas, and two in Indiana. From the FDA and news reports:

The warning applies to 10-ounce cans of Castleberry's, Austex and Kroger brands of hot dog chili sauce with "best by" dates from April 30, 2009, through May 22, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration said. It wasn't immediately clear how widely the products were distributed.

Specific products recalled include:

Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000101)
Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030099533)
Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 1111083942)
Morton House Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526665830)
Cattle Drive Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001515)
Southern Home Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 0788015360)
Meijer Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 4125095229)
Castleberrys Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001015)
Castleberrys Barbecue Pork, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000402)
Bunker Hill Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 7526604112)

All Around the Town

Olive Garden Class Action Suit: According to an ad in the Sunday Indy Star, local law firm Bingham McHale is looking for participants in a class-action lawsuit against The Olive Garden. If you were sick from the norovirus outbreak late last year, they want you to give them a call.

Booty Re-Call: I've seen no press about it locally, but nationally, foodies around the country are tossing entire bags of Trader Joe's popular Veggie Booty. The puffed snacks were recalled last week for possible salmonella poisoning by Robert's American Gourmet, the makers of the popular snacks. The recall does not effect Fruit Booty or any of their other popular products. Sadly, they no longer produce Girlfriend's Booty, which was, yes a real snack that also came in BBQ Girlfriend's Booty. No word on when the recall will be lifted.

July is National Ice-Cream Month: Like I need an excuse. Hey, I still didn't get that ice cream maker! I *hate* having to buy myself gifts I want. Maybe I'll be inspired by some of these luscious lookers.

Transfat Free Fair Food: Now you can have your deep fried Oreo andeat it, too. Officials have announced that vendors at this fall's Indiana State Fair will use transfat free oils for deep frying everything from corn dogs to Twinkies. With all the new oils, it's easy to eliminate transfats -- from McDonald's to fair food -- but all those saturated fats and calories are still there! Even so, enjoy! (I'll be in the funnel cake line.)

Weber Grill Opens Downtown: I didn't make it to any soft opening events, but several reports I'm hearing are that our new location of the Chicago staple Weber Grill looks pretty good. All is reportedly moving smoothly and well. They're open officially next week.

Devour Downtown Kick-off Event: Don't forget next Monday, July 9, to stop off at the Devour Downtown kickoff event, 4-6 p.m. in the Emmis building lobby. Last year's event was tasty and fun with great food samples from a number of restaurants and lots of new treat cocktails. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and benefit Second Helpings.

Who's Been Busted for Food Safety Violations

Advance Indiana's Gary Welsh has being a bang up job lately as a cub-food reporter. Today, he points us to links from WTHR's report on food safety in the wake of the Olive Garden Norovirus outbreak. And doing the dirty work we couldn't do -- namely digging through the inspection reports at health departments for 9 counties, Channel 13 lists the worst offenders when it comes to critical citations in 2006. Top of the list in Marion County? No surprise -- Sushi on the Rocks on South Meridian with 41 critical violations! In other words, 41 violations that could directly result in a customer getting sick. (They hold the award in my book for first and only place where I sent sushi back because the fish was off. Most sushi chefs would be mortified if a customer sent back bad fish. This one (so reported the server) was only hesitant to remake my roll because he was afraid I "wouldn't like this one either.") With lists like these, it's no surprise when doctors tell us that the vast majority of "stomach flu" or "24-hour viruses" are actually food-borne illnesses.

Channel 13 also offers this list of Health Department offenders by county including ranking and number of critical and non-critical violations and number of inspections in the past year. Some highlights:

Marion Country:

1 Sushi on the Rocks, 41 critical violations, 91 non-critical violations, 235 S Meridian St
2 Mexico City Grill, 25 critical violations, 22 non-critical violations, 8028 S Emerson Ave
3 Tropicana, 24 critical violations, 22 non-critical violations, 6447 W Washington St
4 (tie) Great China Buffet, 23 critical violations, 46 non-critical, 6332 E 82nd St
4 (tie) Pollo Allegre, 23 critical, 35 non-critical, 3804 English Ave
5 (tie) La Hacienda, 19 critical, 48 non-critical, 6429 E Washington St
5 (tie) El Rodeo #5, 19 critical, 45 non-critical, 2606 N High School Rd
5 (tie) Peking Wok, 19 critical, 41 non-critical, 3315 E 86th St
5 (tie) 8 China Buffet, 19 critical, 31 non-critical, 5393 E 82nd St
5 (tie) Uncle Arties Bar-B-Q, 19 critical, 23 non-critical, 4851 N College Ave
5 (tie) Cici's Pizza, 19 critical, 23 non-critical, 9982 E Washington St

In Hamilton County, RAM Brewery, Bella Vita, Barley Island Brewing Company, and the ever popular J. Weg's Delicatessen on College were among the most cited. In Hendrick's Country, among the top offenders were Buffalo Wild Wings in Plainfield, Thai One On in Avon, and Boulder Creek Dining Co. in Brownsburg.