Inspection Reports Show Violations Leading to MayaBazaar Restaurant’s Closure
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 6, 2022)
Farmington Hills, MI – Although their Facebook page claims that a water leak is the cause of their closure, MayaBazaar in Farmington Hills was closed down by Oakland County Health Division on March 16 after failing to resolve ongoing violations.
Oakland County Times obtained over 300 pages of reports through a Freedom of Information Act request, dating back one year.
In March of 2021 the restaurant was cited for building issues. During a previous inspection they had been cited for using the neighboring vacant storefront space as an unapproved storage area. At the March 3 inspection the issue had been resolved, however when an inspector returned in Aug. the space was again being used. MayaBazaar was cited for the hand sink not being sealed to the wall, five missing ceiling tiles, soiled floors, grease buildup on ventilation hood filters, plus food debris on multiple surfaces including loading cooler, dish machine, and reach in cooler.
These violations did not rise to the level of increased enforcement at that time, but they were issues that came up again when the Health Division returned in August.
VIOLATIONS
On Aug. 31, 2021 there were several food storage issues in addition to the building issues. On this date containers of raw chicken were stored above and next to cooked, ready to eat foods in the walk-in cooler, and “visibly spoiled onions” were stored on a shelf in the dry area. There were also onions stored on the kitchen floor. Cooked tofu, raw shrimp, cooked cauliflower, garbanzo beans, yogurt sauce, and cooked beef in the cooler tested at higher temperatures than is permitted. Instead of scoops with handles, employees were using bowls.
There were pop handles “soiled with hard buildup,” flying insects in the dry storage area, and a glue board for insects stored over food in the dry storage area. Soiled items included knives, peelers, measuring cups, plates and a table-mounted can opener soiled with buildup. Additionally, drain lines and the mop sink basin were coated with black build up.
The inspector also noted that an extra-large pot was being used that was too large to fit in the sink or the dishwashing machine.
MayaBazaar was issued a cease and desist order against using the neighboring storefront for storage, and an office consultation was scheduled for the owner.
An inspection on Sept. 28, 2021 found several violations uncorrected including building issues and food storage issues. MayaBazaar was still storing raw chicken above and next to ready to eat foods, still had glue boards above food, dirty soda pop nozzles, missing ceiling tiles, flying insects, and storage in the unapproved space next door.
The drain line from the 3 compartment sink was leaking.
Foods tested at a higher than approved temperature included chick peas, tofu, boiled eggs, heavy cream, cooked cauliflower, yogurt sauce and tomato chutney. While the health inspector was present, an employee rinsed a knife in the hand sink and put it away with clean utencils. And the large pot was still being used. There were also dirty dishes being stored on the floor.
Sour cream with a discard date of Sept. 9 was still being used, 21 days after it should have been discarded.
On October 8, 2021 MayaBazaar was inspected again. In addition to not repairing building issues, the restaurant again had over-temperature food, with a range of 48-70 degrees.
Another visit on Oct. 20 found uncorrected building issues.
On Nov. 16 the adjacent building was locked and inspectors were told that only the owner had the key. On this date the inspector observed several violations including expired sour cream dated Nov. 12, no date markings on prepared foods, and two containers of raw chicken stored on the floor underneath the food prep table. An ice bucket was stored on the floor in the bar area as well.
While the inspector was there, and employee dried their hands on their apron, failed to wash their hands after handling soiled dishes and before handling clean dishes, and handling ready to eat cilantro with their bare hands. They also used the hand sink to fill a pot for boiling eggs.
Soiled utensils and dishes continued to be a problem, and instead of flying insects this inspection found a “large amount of dead insects” in the light shield in the mop sink area.
On Dec. 14, 2021 an inspector was again denied access to the adjacent building to follow up on the cease and desist. In addition to ongoing uncorrected violations, the inspector reported that an employee was doing food prep without washing hands, and using the hand sink to fill food containers. Onions were again found stored on the floor.
On Jan. 11 when the inspector came they found the restaurant unexpectedly closed.
On Feb. 10 the inspector noted uncorrected violations. When they returned on Feb. 11 they also observed “visibly spoiled” mint and jalapeno peppers as well as raw tilapia, shrimp, chicken, and eggs stored above cooked foods. Foods were not date marked, and leafy greens were stored inside a plastic grocery bag instead of an approved container.
The interior surface of the ice machine was soiled with black, mold-like growth, and multiple surfaces were soiled with grease build up. Buckets of clean utensils, pots, and pans were stored on the floor. And there were lights not working through the building. The report states “Facility was using a domestic floor lamp to light the ware-working area and sanitizing [area]. Had to use flashlights in the dry food storage and mop sink areas.”
The inspector tested the temperature of the water at the handwashing sink and found it to be at 85 degrees, when 100 degrees is required. There was also no paper towel at the sink. And an employee was observed towel drying dishes. Key employees onsite had not taken a food safety class.
On Feb. 23 MayaBazaar again had raw chicken and eggs stored over prepared foods and sauces. On this visit it was butter chicken sauce that test at 20 degrees above the approved temperature.
The over-sized pot was still being used, and the inspector reported that an employee rinsed it before putting it away, telling the inspector that it was too large to sanitize. The hand sink again lacked paper towel.
The uncorrected violations also continued.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT REVOKES LICENSE
On March 10 the Health Division visited again and due to uncorrected violations decided to revoke the restaurant’s license. The Oakland County Food Service Appeal Board voted unanimously to uphold the revocation on March 16.
Public Information Officer Bill Mullan said that “Since it opened in March of 2019, Oakland County Health Division sanitarians have visited the restaurant numerous times. Most of Oakland County’s 4,500-plus licensed food service establishments receive two inspections a year.”
In order to apply for another food service license, MayaBazaar must meet 16 recommendations outlined in the appeal board’s resolution which include correcting all documented outstanding violations and paying outstanding fees, food safety training for managers and employees, the presence of one full-time certified food service manager in the kitchen during each operational shift, appropriate record keeping such as written cleaning procedures and logs and food temperature logs, and proper labeling of stored food items. The restaurant must maintain all recommendations for at least six months after reopening.
“Food service inspections are an opportunity to educate restaurant owners, managers, and staff on the best practices of food safety to protect public health by preventing food-borne illnesses,” Mullan said.
“During an inspection, Oakland County Health Division gives restaurants a reasonable amount of time to correct violations before returning for a follow-up visit. Most Oakland County restaurants correct violations within that period. Food service license revocation is rare and a measure of last resort when a restaurant consistently fails to implement corrections to violations found during inspections.”
MAYABAZAAR
MayaBazaar is an Indian restaurant whose name is inspired by a classic film. According to their website, “The song ‘Vivaha Bhojanambu’ from the iconic Indian movie MayaBazaar (1957) beautifully combines life’s two greatest passions; Food and Movies. Indians generally are known for their love for movies and food, and we are no different. The restaurant itself, has been our dream for many years now, and we are fortunate to be sharing our dream with you. When we started planning our restaurant, it was obvious that there was no other name that would capture our essence better than MayaBazaar.”
Owner Tejas Madreddi told Oakland County Times via email, “We have corrected all our violations and will open back up soon. We will not commit those violations again and look forward to serving our customers.”
MayaBazaar is located at 30701 W 12 Mile Rd. Oakland County Times will do a follow up when they re-open.
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