Ichiban food license in jeopardy after long history of critical health violations

LAFAYETTE, Ind.— In 2018 alone, Ichiban of downtown Lafayette has received 22 critical and 13 non-critical health code violations, leading the Tippecanoe County Health Department to consider revoking its food serving license.

The formal hearing on June 20 comes as Ichiban has committed the same type of critical violation on subjects such as preventing contamination, among others, for at least the sixth time in a year or so.

Located at 1603 Suite 2 S. Fourth St., Ichiban racked up $500 in fines so far this year for violations such as "found no documentation for dry breading and batter at 56.4 degrees Fahrenheit on the bottom shelf of the prep counter," and "found a container of raw chicken being stored directly on top of an uncovered container of shredded potatoes in the front walk-in refrigerator," according to the inspection details from April 6 and April 20 health inspections.

During the restaurant's April 20 follow-up to the April 6 routine inspection, Ichiban received five warnings for repeat violations such as "food stored directly inside plastic to-go bags not made of food grade material located in the walk-in freezer, containers of raw fish being stored over an open container of raw sprouts located in the vegetable walk-in refrigerator, and a can of 'WD 40' being stored next to containers of spices, located on the shelf under the slicer," according to the inspection details.

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The health department has already had an informal hearing and an educational session with the restaurant, but the violations have continued to occur, said Craig Rich, the department's administrator.

"We are not there to shut anyone down," Rich said. "(But the response) has been frustrating."

The health department does not have reports of food poisoning or other injuries from the restaurant, Rich said.

"But we believe the conditions are conducive," he said.

In 2017, the Tippecanoe County Health Department inspected Ichiban five times: two regular inspections and three follow-up inspections, racking up $550 in fines. On Dec. 21, 2017, a fine of $200 was given to the restaurant for "raw chicken, raw lamb, and raw pork stored over containers of bamboo and mushrooms, and raw chicken stored over raw lamb in the front walk-in refrigerator," according to the inspection details.

But Rich said this is the first time Ichiban is having a formal hearing, Rich said.

Ichiban's owner, Will Weng, said the restaurant has been going through turnover in its staff and management.

The staff, who Weng said is largely Chinese, has had difficulty understanding some of those sanitary issues, said Echo Yim, the restaurant's manager.

"What we have in China doesn't work here," Yim said.

Yim and Weng said they are trying to make the staff more aware of the sanitary rules by having those rules translated to Chinese.

Weng also said some of the food items Ichiban staff handles – such as pork blood – are items that are not as familiar to health inspectors. The staff handled those items differently than how the inspectors may expect, Weng said, adding he hopes the public hearing will help clarify.

Weng said the restaurant also has shifted its focus away from sushi and has cut down on some of the menu items, although he said he still wants to keep items that have allowed the restaurant to serve authentic Chinese food.

"We are working really hard, really hard right now," Yim said. "We wish to present a better, new Ichiban to the public."

County Health Officer Dr. Jeremy Adler will lead the June 20 hearing, where Ichiban is expected to plead its case and detail its plan to address the violations. Adler will then make a decision, ranging from shutting down the restaurant permanently to allowing the restaurant to remain open under certain conditions. Ichiban has to pay the fines regardless, Rich said.

The last formal hearing, as Rich recalled, was for Tasty Buffet on 109 Beck Lane. The owners there ended up selling the restaurant.

The public hearing will be Wednesday, June 20, at 9:30 a.m. in the Tippecanoe County Building at 20 N. Third St., Lafayette.

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