LA ESTRELLA CAFE & RESTAURANT

High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw shell eggs over raw beef in walk in cooler, operator properly stored it. Corrected On-Site

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked pork (90F - Hot Holding) white rice (112F - Hot Holding) on preparation table, operator reheated it. Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Emailed poster to operator. Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime.

Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Employees name Tamara, with more than 2 months as per operator.

Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed spray bottle with degreaser with no label. Operator properly labeled it. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Bathroom door left open other than during cleaning or maintenance. Women bathroom.

Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed bowl inside rice container, operator removed it. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Water damage above preparation table.

Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Observed employee's open bottle water on preparation table. Instructed operator regarding cross contamination. Corrective Action Taken

Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cases of potatoes on kitchen floor. Operator properly stored it. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole on the wall by the walk in freezer

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Filter soiled.

Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Above three compartment sink.

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar containers located at the front line.

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed raw beef steak stored over red peppers inside walk in cooler. Operator provided rearranged. Corrected On-Site

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw pork stored over fish croquettes inside walk in cooler. Operator removed the pork. Corrected On-Site

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed French fries (52F - Cold Holding) inside reach in cooler across cook line. As per operator for less than 10 minutes.

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed chicken soup (127F - Hot Holding) inside reach in steam table. As per operator for less than 4 hrs. Operator placed soup on stove for reheating. Retest chicken soup (178F - Hot Holding) Corrected On-Site

Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed at storage area.

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed next to triple sink.

High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. In the walk in freezer observed raw ground beef stored in direct contact with to go bags.

High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed degreaser bottle stored near clean pans, pots on storage shelves next to the three compartment sink at kitchen. Operator removed it on site. Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed can opener soiled.

Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed cooked pork chunks and cooked chicken cooked on last Monday not dated marked.

Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed degreaser in a Spray bottle not labeled.

Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed in the walk in cooker raw ground beef stored on the floor.

Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Repeat Violation Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-19: Time Extended

Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed walk in freezer floor soiled underneath the food storage shelves. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-19: Time Extended

Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-19: Time Extended

Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-19: Time Extended

High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee put gloves on without washing hands. Instructed employee to wash hands before putting on gloves and he did it. Corrected On-Site

High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed pepperoni stored in thank you bags at reach in cooler located next to walk in cooler. Manager removed items from thank you bags. Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed can opener at preparation table located across from 3 compartment sink soiled.

Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Observed establishment provides eggs to customers like, and it's not on the menu identified. Manager placed an asterisk on menu. Observed no written consumer advisory on the menu. Provided manager consumer advisory. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed at preparation table across from cook line.

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood filter soiled. Observed gasket in reach in cooler at preparation area soiled located across from cook line. Observed shelves in walk in cooler soiled.

Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed at walk in cooler.

Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed walls soiled throughout the kitchen.

Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed at preparation area across from cook line.

High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food.

High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On the storage shelf located above the steam table observed fresh garlic in iol (80 F - Cold Holding), as per cook for less than 4 hours, employee placed garlic in oil back in the reach in cooler to rapidly cool down. Corrective Action Taken

Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener soiled.

Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink located in the kitchen blocked by a large garbage can. Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products.

Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Manager completed forms on site.

Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.

Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed reach in cooler door handle soiled, cooler located in the kitchen.

Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.

Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed spoon stored in standing water at 85F.

Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris.

Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed Tamale en casuela thawing at room temperature over the preparation table in the kitchen.

Basic - Wet wiping cloth used to wipe tableware or carry-out containers.

High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Observed shell eggs stored at kitchen counter, at room temperature, according to cook out for about 90 minutes. Cook stored shell eggs inside walk in cooler for rapid chill Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed can opener blade soiled.

Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.

Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed at kitchen area tiles cracked. Repeat Violation

Basic - Establishment did not report seating change that affects the license fee, Clean Indoor Air Act, sewage system approval or other related requirements. Observed seating changed from 31 to 71 seats According to manager waiting for Derm to sign seating change evaluation form. Repeat Violation

Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Observed holes in the wall by Walk in freezer at storage area.

Basic - Light shield for lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing end caps. Observed light shields above kitchen steam table missing end caps. Repeat Violation

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed no sign at hand wash sink at kitchen. Provide handwashing sign to operator, operator printed sign and posted above hand wash sink at kitchen. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood filters soiled.

High Priority - Sanitizer not used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Observed at 3 compartment sink at bar area Chlorine at over 200 ppm. Employee reset sanitizer solution, rechecked chlorine at 100 ppm Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed can opener blade and microwave interior soiled. Employee cleaned can opener blade and microwave interior during inspection. Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observe silver ware inside hand wash sink. Employee removed silverware out of hand wash sink. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation

Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed inside reach in cooler containers with cooked pork, cooked chicken, cut cheese, and portioned raw beef, according to manager prepared the day before, no date labeled. Manager labeled food containers with date. Repeat Violation

Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed water damaged on ceiling tiles at kitchen.

Basic - Establishment did not report seating change that affects the license fee, Clean Indoor Air Act, sewage system approval or other related requirements. Observed seating from 31 to 71 seats. Repeat Violation

Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed in front of walk in freezer. Repeat Violation

Basic - Light shield for lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing end caps. Observed at kitchen area. Repeat Violation

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed at kitchen hand wash sink. Repeat Violation

Basic - Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area or bathroom. Observed at storage are by walk in co and freezer.

Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed wall soiled with food splash at kitchen preparation area across from 3 compartment sink. Repeat Violation

Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no chlorine test kit available. Repeat Violation

Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Employee provided soap. Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed inside reach in cooler containers with cooked chicken, and cooked beef according to cook prepared the day before no date labeled.

Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.

Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed at storage area.. Repeat Violation

Basic - Establishment did not report seating change that affects the license fee, Clean Indoor Air Act, sewage system approval or other related requirements. Seating change form was provide, according to manager waiting on signature from Miami-Dade County. Repeat Violation

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees.

Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning.

Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed throughout the kitchen.

Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no chlorine test strips.

Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed spray bottle containing all purpose cleaner no labeled. Employee labeled spray bottle. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed at storage area. Repeat Violation

Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Repeat Violation

Basic - Establishment did not report seating change that affects the license fee, Clean Indoor Air Act, sewage system approval or other related requirements. Seating change form was provide, according to manager waiting on signature from the County. Repeat Violation

Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed in front of walk in freezer. Repeat Violation

Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Repeat Violation

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed exterior of oven soiled, and hood filters. Repeat Violation

Basic - Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area or bathroom. Observed in storage area, concrete floor no sealed.

Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Repeat Violation

Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed throughout the kitchen. Repeat Violation