Let them eat lutefisk!
They've found lutefisk on Mars!
Posted on 03/15/2009 10:27:50 AM PDT by Glenn
ROCHESTER TWP. — Louis Slima looked over the apple, cherry and blueberry pies lining the dessert table at St. Cecilia’s Friday fish fry, trying to pick the best one.
The trouble was, Slima, 60, of New Sewickley Township, wanted homemade raisin pie, which for years has been one of his favorites at the event.
“This is the only time of year that I get them, during the Lenten season,” Slima said.
Not anymore. On Feb. 27, a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture inspector stopped for an annual inspection at St. Cecilia’s kitchen in Rochester Township. The kitchen was spotless. But across the hall, the inspector caught sight of something troubling: women slicing pies, preparing to serve them to the public.
The inspector asked whether the pies had been baked in the church kitchen. They weren’t.
Chris L. Ryder, spokesman for the department, said the church was informed that since the pies didn’t come from an inspected, licensed kitchen, they couldn’t be served, according to Pennsylvania food code. Church-baked or store-bought pies are OK.
“Not only pies, but things that have been jarred at home or self-butchered meat, that type of thing,” Ryder said.
Any church, fair vendor or fire hall with a temporary food license serving the public on more than three occasions must be inspected each year. The agriculture department works with the state health department to perform inspections.
St. Cecilia’s is among many churches that host fish fries during Lent, a great fundraiser.
The Rev. Mike Greb said that for years, church women, many retired, have baked and donated pies for St. Cecilia’s dinners. Everything from coconut creme and apple strudel to pecan and lemon meringue pies poured in, and were their way of contributing. Greb said he sees both sides and understands the state is following procedure, but he also understands why the women are feeling as if the state overreacted.
“These women are master bakers and cooks … now their kitchens are suddenly suspect. Suddenly it’s considered dangerous.”
Ryder said that if the inspector hadn’t happened to see the women cutting the pies, the department wouldn’t have raised the question.
During St. Cecilia’s checkup, the inspector also took issue with a tray of covered pirogi left on a counter overnight.
Marlene Kislock, head of the kitchen, said the cooked pirogi were left out to cool and forgotten. They were later thrown out, she said.
St. Cecilia’s is the only venue recently warned, but Ryder said there were 16 instances last year in which temporary licensees received warnings.
For Slima, who ended up taking home a slice of blueberry pie, it was the homemade raisin pie he really wanted, whether it was carried or dragged in on the floor, he said. “A cup of coffee and raisin pie is just, whoa,” he said. “I miss that now.”
I have been cooking since I was wee and have never given a soul food poisoning.
Should a non-profit be able to conduct a fundraiser without the government obstructing them? I think so.
Soon, soon.
To eat in the gummit kitchens (called "Soup Kitchens"), you will have to line up in the soup line.
It'll be heartwarmingly reminiscent of the Great Depression.
Not even military (let alone from local Gestapo wannabes) inspections; been on both ends of those.
And show two forms of approved ID, one of which must have a current photograph, and....
Well, ah, actually...
When I was a young paratrooper, many moons ago, the Army had a habit of not feeding us when we where in the field.
So we would get back to garrison after a week or four in the woods, and hit the Bn Mess hall, where we would dutifully sign in, under our own names.
Then, we would hit the third Bn mess hall, and sign in a disney characters.
Then, 1st Bn, where I was alternatively, Ronald Reagen or Casper Weinberger.
Later, some entrepreneur got the brilliant idea, to open a chinese all-you-can-eat restaraunt right outside the gates of Fort Bragg, and scheduled his opening for the day we got back from the field. He went out of business that same day.
I felt bad for him.
Let them eat lutefisk!
They've found lutefisk on Mars!
Chris L. Ryder, spokesman for the department, said the church was informed that since the pies didn't come from an inspected, licensed kitchen, they couldn't be served, according to Pennsylvania food code. Church-baked or store-bought pies are OK. "Not only pies, but things that have been jarred at home or self-butchered meat, that type of thing," Ryder said.Not too sure this is news -- enforcement is probably new though. :')
Not unless you count the mice/rts that most usually have a problem with, same with grocery stores.
Ate fish fry dinner with Fr. Mike last Friday. The fish fry was delicious, the cafeteria spotless.
Welcome to Obamageddon.
Some of the best food I have had in my many years was made in church kitchens.
Nor do they want it to be. It is a shame. I'll bet the raisin pie was really good, too.
Aaah, our PA tax dollars at work.
Several years ago I was at a chuck e cheese pizza place for a birthday party. As I stood in line, I watched a little boy at the salad bar dip his hand into the ranch dressing, stuff his fingers in his mouth sucking off the dressing, then reach back in for another helping. Did it several times, nobody stopped him. I never went back and now my kids are all too old for chuck e cheese, thank the Lord. Wonder what a health inspector would have said?
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