Taqueria food violators caught making same mistakes

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) —  With tears and hugs, the Food Patrol is making a dream come true in a barbecue joint, while a taqueria acknowledges that more work needs to be put in.

The barbecue spot is beaming with pride over a long-overdue Top Performer sticker because their hard work is paying off.

Here’s what’s que rico and what’s que asco in tonight’s Food 4 Thought!

The Food Patrol is surprising the Backyard BBQ located at 3134 Wilson Rd in Harlingen.

Backyard BBQ smoked their July 29 inspection, making them this week’s Top Performer.

(Inspection report from the City of Harlingen)

Fans of the Food Patrol are singing their praises of the barbecue pit.

“I get my fix all the time," a customer said.

The place smells like Texas and feels like home because the family-run BBQ spot is about to have a sweet moment.

(The Food Patrol/ValleyCentral)

Carina Gomez, owner of Backyard BBQ, owes it all to her dad, Valde Gomez, who started it all by smoking brisket decades ago.

(The Food Patrol/ValleyCentral)

From the recipes, preparation, keeping the juices, and making it mouth-watering. The reputation and hard work ethic have all paid off.

(Courtesy of Carina Gomez, Backyard BBQ)

"All we needed was the food patrol," Valde said.

The Backyard BBQ was a Top Performer before the Food Patrol showed up.

It is not only a dad and daughter behind the barbecue pit, but it is also a third and fourth-generation restaurant.

With this many family members taking part in the business, we could see them as Top Performers when Valde's granddaughter takes over.

That’s que rico!

But it’s que asco time!

The food patrol is heading to Nicho’s Café Y Taqueria, located at 2776 West Alton Gloor Blvd in Brownsville.

The taqueria flat out failed its July 9 inspection report with a total score of 67 out of 100. That is 33 violations.

(Inspection report from the City of Brownsville)

The inspector noted, "**Warning**: owner always has the same demerits."

They are repeat offenders.

The July inspection reported violations that can make people sick.

Instead of telling you, the Food Patrol is going to show you.

The failed inspection had listed broken fridge gaskets, and it is still broken 57 days later.

The taqueria was told to ‘stop cross-contamination’.

However, cross-contamination is still happening as raw chicken and raw meat are stacked inside each other.

(The Food Patrol/ValleyCentral)

Cross-contamination can make people sick, and Petra, owner of Nicho's Cafe Y Taqueria, said she would throw the food out. The Food Patrol did not see it get thrown out.

The Taqueria was also hit for not labeling or covering food.

The Food Patrol noticed some containers were missing their lids: a container filled with chicken had a label that said 'onions'.

(The Food Patrol/ValleyCentral)

Cross-contamination, missing labels, mislabeled containers and that is only the fridge.

The freezer could use a cleaning, and so could the floors.

Dirty conditions are violations that the taqueria had been hit with before.

No paper towels were another violation caught, wet-handed.

The Food Patrol has seen enough.

Petra has a lot to think about.

Petra admitted they would have failed again if the health department had shown up instead of the Food Patrol.

And that’s Food 4 Thought!

You’re part of the Food Patrol! When you see dirty habits, please send us photos/videos and a copy of the complaint you filed to your local health department to News@KVEO.COM.