Mice Issues Plague Southern Spice NYC, Again; Restaurant Fails NYC Health Inspection
Southern Spice Indian restaurant (Located at 143-06 45th Ave in Flushing, NY near the famous Ganesh Temple) continues to be plagued by mice issues.
For the third time in a row, in its inspection of this Indian restaurant on March 11, 2010, the New York City Health Department has cited:
Evidence of, or live mice in facility’s food and/ or non-food areas.
The NYC Health Dept noted mice issues at Southern Spice during the inspections conducted on June 1, 2009 and November 17, 2008 as well.

Southern Spice Indian restaurant located in Flushing New York received 30 Violation Points in its March 11, 2010 inspection and failed the NYC Health Dept. inspection.
Baluchi’s W.56th St Marred by Evidence of Live Roaches, Vermin, Adulterated Food; Fails NYC Health Inspection
Raw, cooked or prepared food in Baluchi’s located at 240 West 56th St in Midtown West Manhattan is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated and/ or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan, says the New York City Health Department after inspecting this Indian restaurant on February 23, 2010.
Further, Baluchi’s food is not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service and there is evidence of, or live roaches in facility’s food and/ or nonfood areas, according to the NYC Health Dept. inspection report of February 23.

Also, Baluchi’s facility is not vermin proof and harborage or conditions conducive to vermin infestation exist.
If you plan on eating at this Midtown West Manhattan Baluchi’s facility, pray that you don’t feel like visiting the restroom because the toilet facility at this restaurant is not maintained and provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self-closing door, according to the NYC Health Dept. inspection report of February 23.
Baluchi’s Indian restaurant located on West 56th St, New York received 36 Violation Points in its February 23, 2010 inspection and failed the NYC Health Dept. inspection.
To pass the NYC Health Dept. inspection, a restaurant must receive 27 Violation Points or less.
Sanitary Violations observed at Baluchi’s during the February 23, 2010 NYC Health Dept. inspection:
1.) Toilet facility not maintained and provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self-closing door.
2.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin infestation exist.
Global Weekends: Bollywood and Anime in America
What: A weekend program at the American Museum of Natural History that will feature bollywood dance performances, cross-cultural conversation on bollywood and anime and film screenings
When: April 17, 2010 from 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm
April 18, 2010 from 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: Kaufmann and Linder Theaters, Grand Gallery, and other halls
The American Museum of Natural History
79th St and Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
Admission: Free with Museum Admission
For Program Details: Contact 212-769-5315 or Visit http://www.amnh.org/programs/specials/bollywoodanime/
Bollywood Actor’s New NYC Indian Restaurant Bhojan Runs into Toilet Issues
Some people never learn from past missteps.
Notwithstanding his repeated troublesome experiences with the NYC Health Department, Bollywood actor and Indian restaurateur Shiva Natarajan continues to taunt the hygiene police with his antics.
Our garrulous Shiva’s newest Indian restaurant Bhojan has recently been pulled up by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for not maintaining and providing the toilet facility with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self-closing door. Continue Reading
Sarod Concert
What: Sarod Concert by Amjad Ali Khan
When: April 2, 2010 from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: Miller Theatre
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
Contact: 212-854-7799
Lecture on South Asian Music
What: Lecture on South Asian Music by Amjad Ali Khan
When: April 2, 2010 from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Lerner Hall
115th and Broadway
New York, NY 10027
Contact: 917-971-7510
Indian Taj – A Horror Tale
Mon dieu, is Indian Taj a restaurant or Satan’s hovel?
This Jackson Heights, NY restaurant not only failed the New York City Department of Health inspection after amassing a whopping 89 violation points but also notched up some weird violations.
Man, one of the violation points was for Interference with or obstruction of the duties of an officer of the Department.
Interfering or obstructing the Health Dept officer?
We’ve never heard of this kinda nonsense before. What were these Indian Taj bozos thinking of achieving with such bizarre behavior.
Folks, the lengthy list of sanitary violations at Indian Taj makes for depressing reading.

For instance, food at Indian Taj in Jackson Heights, New York, is not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service, says the NYC Health Dept. after inspecting this Indian restaurant on February 08, 2010.
Further, food contact surface is not properly maintained, or not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred, according to the NYC Health Dept. inspection report of February 08, 2010.
By the way, the NYC health Dept. notes that wiping cloths at Indian Taj are dirty or not stored in sanitizing solution.
Ugh.
To pass the NYC Health Dept. inspection, a restaurant must receive 27 Violation Points or less.
Since Indian Taj restaurant (37-25 on 74 Street, Jackson Heights, NY) received a massive 89 Violation Points in its February 8, 2010 NYC Health Dept. inspection, it obviously failed the inspection.
Sanitary Violations observed at Indian Taj, Jackson Heights during the February 08, 2010 NYC Health Dept. inspection:
1.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
2.) Food contact surface not properly maintained.
3.) Canned food product observed severely dented.
4.) Interference with or obstruction of the duties of an officer of the Department.
5.) HACCP plan not approved and/ or approved plan not on premises.
6.) Wiping cloths dirty or not stored in sanitizing solution
7.) Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
8.) Food contact surface not properly maintained, or not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
The Buddha
What: Film Screening – The Buddha
When: March 23, 2010 from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Asia Society
725 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Contact: 212-288-6400
Making Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art
What: Lecture on Spiritual Quest and Sacred Site: Making Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art
When: March 15, 2010 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Asia Society
725 Park Avenue,
New York, NY 10021
Contact: 212-288-6400
Folks, if you are planning on a meal at Dhaba Indian restaurant, a serial hygiene offender, you might want to read the New York City Health Department inspection reports before your visit.
The NYC Health Dept. has repeatedly brought up hygiene issues at this restaurant, which failed the city inspection twice last year!
In its latest inspection of this Manhattan Indian restaurant (on February 19, 2010), the NYC Health Dept. says personal hygiene is inadequate, clean outer garments and effective hair restraint is not worn at Dhaba NYC.
According to the NYC Health Dept inspection report of February 19, 2010 sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil is improperly used or stored at Dhaba NYC located on Lexington Avenue in Murray Hill area.
Dhaba located at 108 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan received 12 Violation points in its February 19, 2010 inspection and passed the NYC Health Dept. inspection.
To pass the NYC Health Dept. inspection, a restaurant must receive 27 Violation Points or less.
Sanitary Violations observed at Dhaba, NYC during the February 19, 2010 NYC Health Dept. inspection:
1.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.

