The hot spots for some good food

Even on windy, murky, cloud-filled winter days, there are always suppliers to meet the constant demands of students on Main Campus.

The vendors.

At lunchtime, in front of most food stands and trucks, there are swarms of hungry Temple students and faculty placing orders or picking up their foods.

Bagel Hut owner Joann Ciallella said customers frequent her business because it has good products.

Ciallella bought the Bagel Hut last October, and she’s kept the menu almost completely the same, adding only a few new selections.

She said the flow of customers doesn’t have a particular peak and comes in “all day [with] no real prime time.”

Richie Jr., owner of Richie’s Deli located in the 12th Street Food Pad Vendors, said the secret to his business’ success is his love for his customers.

“I love my customers and I guess it shows,” he said.

His love for his customers is evident in the food selections the deli offers.

“We serve breakfast all day, [and] someone could get a cheesesteak when we first open up to the time we close,” he said.

The variety of food offered and genuine satisfaction keeps customers coming back, Richie said.

Ali Ibrahim from Ali’s Middle Eastern said he keeps his customers satisfied by noticing what his customers like. He adds new food to his menu and provides good customer service.

“Everybody makes mistakes,” Ibrahim said in response to the health inspection violation he received from the city’s Department of Public Health last fall.

It was a misunderstanding by the inspectors and “they came again, and cleared it.”

BTMM freshman Brittney Seegers likes the all-in-one convenience of the Student Center

“I like the [Student Center]. The woman [at the wrap place], I don’t know her name, is really, really nice.”

Seegers said the food from the lunch trucks seems to always be fried.

“Some places don‘t take Diamond Dollars [and] that’s difficult,” she said.

The Student Center isn’t immune from student dissatisfaction with food variety. Some students said they would like to see more competition and choices in the food court.

Victoria Hudgins can be reached at victoria.hudgins@temple.edu.

Risky extras for area eateries

Eating on and around campus can be an adventure. The types of food available to the Temple community are endless.

With all the meal options available on campus, the Department of Public Health has to remain vigilant on making sure all establishments are clean.

Safety at eateries on and around campus vary based on health inspections. Several establishments were reported as having minimal to no inspection violations, while others had major infractions.

Ali’s Middle Eastern, located in the Anderson food pad, was cited for six critical violations at its last inspection. One violation cited was food being stored at improper temperatures.

According to healthinspections.com, cold foods must be stored below 41 degrees Fahrenheit in order to prevent bacteria growth. At Ali’s, raw eggs were recorded at 80 degrees and mayonnaise at 78 degrees. Other violations included soiled wipe cloths and fly infestations.

Jeff Moran, spokesman for the Office of Communications at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, said each establishment is inspected once a year. If inspectors find critical violations, they will return within 30 days for re-inspection. Critical violations are defined as posing a potential health risk.

“The establishment is responsible for paying for any subsequent inspections,” Moran said. “These re-inspections are unannounced.”

At Koja Grille, a restaurant at the Shops at Avenue North, inspectors observed employees with possible respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. Jae Sim, owner of the Japanese and Koren restaurant, said one employee was seen coughing, but he was not aware of any serious illness.

Sim said the department returned for a re-inspection three weeks ago and did not find any violations. These reports have not been released to the public.

“There are no problems here now,” Sim said.

Chris Thames, manager at the Draught Horse, said the restaurant did not have any critical violations during its last inspection. However, a recent report on healthinspections.com lists four violations, including food not being protected from contamination and mouse and small insect infestation.

Campus Grub, a lunch truck formerly located on the 1600 block of Broad Street, had numerous violations. During the department’s first visit in 2008, mouse droppings and dead roaches were found on the same shelves where food was stored.

The truck was cited for “heavily soiled and stained” wipe cloths and for its food equipment and floors being encrusted with dirt, mouse feces and dead roaches.

When inspectors returned six days later, there were no dead roaches. Instead, inspectors found live ones. Leaves and “unidentified debris” were also found in the deep fryer.

Campus Grub is no longer found on campus. Moran did not know if the truck is still in operation.

“If something poses an immediate threat to public health, the establishment will be asked to voluntarily shut down,” Moran said. “In most cases, they do.”

If establishments do not comply, the case is heard in court.

The majority of lunch trucks were pest-free. The shops between Paley and Anderson, with the exception of Ali’s, received safe reports, as well.

Feim Amzovski, owner of Fame’s Famous Pizza, said he works very hard to keep his establishment clean.

“I work seven days a week during the school season,” Amzovski said. “I power wash the store on the weekends.”

Andrea Hanratty can be reached at andrea.hanratty@temple.edu.