Blackstone Market/Mercat

Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

Inspector’s note: Observed small amounts of build up at interior of ice machines. Instructed to remove ice, clean and sanitize both machines. Maintain clean and free from build up.

Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

Inspector’s note: Observed residue on interior surfaces of ice machine. Instructed manager to clean and maintain

Garbage wasn’t handled or stored properly.

Inspector’s note: Observed 2 out of 8 dumpsters without lids and were not in use. Instructed to replace and maintain.

Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

Inspector’s note: Observed small amounts of build up at interior of both ice machines. Instructed to remove ice, clean and sanitize both machines. Maintain clean and free from build up.

Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

Inspector’s note: Large can opener in 3rd floor prep kitchen in need of detail cleaning or replacing of blade. Instructed to correct and maintain.

Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

Inspector’s note: Large cutting board at 2nd floor kitchen in need of replacing where dark spots and deep cuts are present. Instructed to correct and maintain.

Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

Inspector’s note: Observed beverage dispensor machine in main restaurant in need of detail cleaning to remove all splatter and build up. Instructed to detail clean and maintain.

Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

Inspector’s note: Rubber gaskets on reach in coolers in need of repalacing where worn. Instructed to replace and maintain.

Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

Inspector’s note: Floors in main restaurant rear prep, front prep and main bar in need of detail cleaning to remove all build up at wall bases and under all equipment. Floors at dish areas, and dry storage areas in need of detail cleaning. Correct and maintain clean at all times.

Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

Inspector’s note: Walls in main restaurant prep area in need of detail cleaning to remove all food splatter. Instructed to clean and maintain clean at all times.

Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

Inspector’s note: 6-501.111 observed evidence of live insect activity on site. Observed about 20 live small flies on the walls and ceilings of the 3rd floor food prep/dish washing area, and about 40 live small flies on the walls located at the drink prep area of the 2nd floor mercat restaurant. Instructed to eliminate live small flies activity, clean and sanitize affected areas and recommended contacting pest control for a service. Priority foundation. Citation issued 7-38-020(a).

Garbage wasn’t handled or stored properly.

Inspector’s note: 5-501.15 observed two out of four outside garbage dumpster without lids to properly close the outside garbage dumpster. Instructed to provide lids that properly close and are tight fitting for the two said garbage dumpster or remove the two said garbage dumpsters and only utilize outside garbage dumpsters with tight fitting lids.

Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

Inspector’s note: 5-205.15 observed the cold-water knob not properly turning on at one of four hand washing sinks in the 3rd floor food prep area. Instructed to repair.

Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

Inspector’s note: 6-501.12 observed accumulated food and grease debris behind the cooking equipment at the 2nd floor food prep area. Instructed to clean.

No approval obtained for a specialized processing method.

Inspector’s note: 8-103.11 observed no haacp plan on site for reduced oxygen packaging of tcs foods. Instructed to provide a haacp plan or obtain a variance from the department of health. Priority foundation. Citation written under violation #29.

Single-use items weren’t stored or used properly.

Inspector’s note: 4-904.11 observed tables being preset without adequate protection of tableware. Instructed to invert all glassware, plates on the customer dining tables as well as the plating section of the food prep area and on the shelves (to go containers, plates, glassware and utensils), and provide adequate protection for all silverware on the customer dining tables and by the food prep area serving station or do not preset customer dining tables or set customer dining tables upon customer arrival.

Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

Inspector’s note: 5-205.15 observed the cold-water knob not properly turning on at one of four hand washing sinks in the 3rd floor food prep area. Instructed to repair.

Garbage wasn’t handled or stored properly.

Inspector’s note: 5-501.15 observed some outside dumpsters without lids and excessive clutter (construction clutter) overflowing the dumpsters and around the dumpster area. Instructed to remove excessive clutter and provide all outside dumpsters with tight fitting lids to prevent pest harborage. Priority foundation. Citation issued 7-38-020(b).

Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

Inspector’s note: 6-501.12 observed accumulated food and grease debris behind the cooking equipment at the 2nd floor food prep area. Instructed to clean.

Single-use items weren’t stored or used properly.

Inspector’s note: 4-904.11 observed glassware and plates not inverted and stored in the restaurant customer dining area. Instructed to invert all glassware and tableware in order to protect from possible contamination.

Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

Inspector’s note: 5-205.15 observed cold water not functioning at one of four hand washing sinks in the women's employee toilet room. Instructed to repair.

No approval obtained for a specialized processing method.

Inspector’s note: Observed facility not meeting variance requirements for modified (rop) packaging performed in facility.no haccp on site of documentation for procedure preformed in facility. Informed facility of requirements must meet and maintain. Citation consolidated with #29.

No approval obtained for a specialized processing method.

Inspector’s note: Observed facility not meeting variance requirements for modified (rop) packaging performed in facility.no haccp on site of documentation for procedure preformed in facility. Informed facility of requirements must meet and maintain. Citation consolidated with #29.

Frozen food was thawed the wrong way.

Inspector’s note: Observed facility not meeting thawing requirements. Food handler thawing frozen shrimp in two compartment prep sink sitting in stagnant water. Informed food handler of proper thawing methods ( must utilize running water with enough volatility when thawing). Must meet proper thawing requirements and maintain

Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

Inspector’s note: Observed small flies through out facility 40 plus small flies in ware washing area on 3rd & 2nd floor/ , 50 plus small flies in 2nd floor bar,rear prep, 4 floor prep, hall way and 30 plus flies 2nd floor utility sink area. Informed person in charge facility must contact pest control service to remove pest(small flies) from facility and maintain. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a) citation issued.

Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.

Inspector’s note: 4-204.115 observed facility not meeting ware washing requirements; no temperature measuring device for high temperature ware washing machine internal surface of dish. Informed person in charge facility must meet requirements, obtain measuring device and maintain. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005 no citation issued.

Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.

Inspector’s note: Observed high temperature ware washing machine on 2nd & 3rd floor not meet wash solution temperature requirements of 160 degrees f, wash solution at 107-142 degrees f. Informed person in charge wash solution requirements must be meet and maintained. Priority foundation violation 7-38-025 citation issued .

Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.

Inspector’s note: Observed facility ware washing machine not meeting requirements. Gauge for ware washing machine in disrepair not working for machine on 2nd floor prep ware washing area. Must repair and maintain.

Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

Inspector’s note: Observed the floor drains thru out all of the food prep and bar areas in need of cleaning to remove debris. Instructed to clean and maintain.

Food protected during storage, preparation, display, service and transportation

Inspector’s note: Observed reduced oxygen vacuum packaging machine on site and potentially hazardous foods (lamb, beef, chicken) being reduced oxygen vacuumed packaged by the facility without a variance approval from the chicago department of public health. Instructed to cease reduced oxygen vacuum packaging of potentially hazardous and to contact the department of public health to inquire on the procedure for a variance for reduce oxygen packaging of potentially hazardous foods. Reduced oxygen packaging machine and potentially hazardous foods tagged and held for inspection by the chicago department of public health. Serious violation 7-38-005(a).

No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors

Inspector’s note: Observed small flies activity on the walls and ceilings thru out the facility located in the following areas; about 20 small flies on the walls and ceilings of the blackstone market food prep area, about 50 small flies on the ceilings of the 3rd food prep area, about 10 small flies on the walls and ceilings of the 4th floor food prep area, about 30 small flies in the 2nd floor food prep area, and about 10 small flies located on the wall of the customer dining area. Instructed to clean and sanitize affected areas and recommended contacting pest control for service. Serious violation 7-38-020.

Outside garbage waste grease and storage area; clean, rodent proof, all containers covered

Inspector’s note: Observed outside dumpster area not maintained, observed missing dumpster lids on two of the garbage dumpsters, over flowing garbage, and accumulated grease debris on the grease dumpster. Instructed to replace missing garbage dumpster lids, never allow garbage to over flow and remove accumulated grease from the grease dumpster lid and maintain. Serious violation 7-38-020.

Clean multi-use utensils and single service articles properly stored: no reuse of single service articles

Inspector’s note: Observed tables being pre-set with glassware not inverted and silverware not protected from possible contamination located in the customer dining area on the 2nd floor. Instructed to not pre-set tables or set tables with the glassware inverted and the silverware protected from possible contamination or set tables upon customer arrival and maintain.

Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

Inspector’s note: Observed an excessive brown slimy substance inside of the soda guns located on the 2nd floor restaurant bar. Instructed to clean and maintain.

Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

Inspector’s note: Observed the floor drains thru out all of the food prep and bar areas in need of cleaning to remove debris. Instructed to clean and maintain.

Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

Inspector’s note: Observed accumulated dust on the vents located in the 4th floor food prep area. Instructed to clean.

Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous

Inspector’s note: Observed no thermometers inside of the refrigeration units located on the 1st floor (blackstone market) food prep area. Instructed to provide and maintain.