The cafeteria was closed for two weeks in December after 54 health-code violations, including a droppings-laden rodent infestation. Then it failed a surprise inspection Monday at the very moment Aramark executives were testifying before the joint House State Government and Agriculture Committee with apologies and vows of corrective action.
The events have consumed cafeteria cognoscenti like Roxbury, who frequents the cafe daily to eat and upload video to his Roxbury News Service.
"Of course, there were at least 70 subpoenas being served around the Capitol yesterday for Bonusgate. But this is all anyone wants to talk about – Rodentgate."
Among the most unsavory details of Monday's health inspection by the state Department of Agriculture were a hairnet in the sink, hot dogs that weren't hot enough, and numerous mouse droppings, including one inside a large bowl at the kitchen mixer.
Note to self: Avoid the chocolate-chip muffins.
But if I was expecting to discover the Ptomaine Palace on the Susquehanna, I was sorely disappointed by first impressions.
The service area was all smiling staff and squeaky-clean displays. The romaine lettuce leaves were perfectly stacked on the salad bar, and the pickles were lined up straight. A cornucopia of produce bobbed like colorful confetti atop the "Farm Fresh Vegetable" soup. And hairnets, of course, were cinching the brows of every food handler and tie-wearing manager, including one who was conspicuously taking an instant temperature reading on a chicken panini.
"Whew, that's hot!" he said, looking up to mug for the crowd as if he were on the Food Network.
