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The Indecision of Crowds

At the moment, I’m reading The Wisdom of Crowds. It’s a really interesting book, all about how crowds can organize themselves to achieve great things… and how sometimes they organize themselves in such a way that things go horrifyingly wrong. I picked this book to read next in part because of an experience I had with my “crowd” the other week. Trying to find a restaurant to eat at wasn’t as simple as it should be… I think what this conversation shows is that – our crowd has varying levels of information and interest, and needs more leadership. Or perhaps it just shows that making restaurant decisions by committee is pointless! But you can decide for yourself…

Cate

12 May at 16:06

So for this Friday I’m wondering if people are up for hot pot in China town?
Other suggestions welcome 🙂
D
12 May at 19:27
hmmmm thinking of ideas…..
S
12 May at 21:04
hmm. good idea but I am not sure if i am in town!

S

12 May at 23:25
There’s only one place to have Hot Pot in China Down. That’s Yantzee and I’ll be up for it..
S
12 May at 23:27
D, you know you want in for Hot Pot! It is good…
K
13 May at 07:34
I will probably be missing in action until at least next weekend. Pray for mojo

A

13 May at 14:53
Yeah, I’m up for Hot Pot
D
13 May at 20:25
Just and FYI for everyone I ran Yangtze in the food inspection reports. It was found NOT to be in compliance with the health regulations.Including:

Critical Issue:

-Food protected from potential contamination and adulteration
->Store food 15 cm off the floor to prevent contamination

And non-critical issues:

-Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair
->Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair

-Mechanical ventilation operable where required
->Maintain ventilation system in manner not permitting health hazard

R
13 May at 20:28
aah D why would you do that, i always assumed no restaurant followed code ever
R
13 May at 20:29
i am not in town this weekend!
D
13 May at 20:30
There are plenty of places that pass inspections. 🙂
R
13 May at 20:31
why would one want to go there? gotta have some risque in life bratha
D
13 May at 20:33
Seriously man they failed “don’t store food on the floor”
R
13 May at 20:34
yaa that was the best part of the deal..i am surprised it didnt say store food in containers
Cate
13 May at 20:34
OK that’s a veto on Yangtze. New location, anyone?
D
13 May at 20:35
Well you can go have a meal there then.
R
13 May at 20:35
ooh cmon cate
Cate
13 May at 21:39
They failed at don’t store food on the floor AND the floor was dirty! A refuses to eat there too and we all know that adorable creature though he is his standards are quite low. New location!
Y
13 May at 22:08
LOL – this conversation is hillarious
Cate
13 May at 22:19
NEW LOCATION!!!!!
S
13 May at 23:10
Okay, after that D no more Yantzee. Even my low standards are failed by that. How about Mongolian Hotpot? They’re by Bank/Billing Bridge area?
S
13 May at 23:30
Hey D, how did Maru do?
Cate
14 May at 07:42
Mongolian is ok but hard to get to?
D
14 May at 07:57
Maru has not be inspected since the new system was launched.As for Mongolian Hotpot it has been inspected 3 times in the last few weeks (they come back if there are major problems)

On April 28th they were cited for nine things (3 critical, 3 non critical):

-Separate raw foods from ready-to-eat foods during storage and handling

* Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods

(apparently they corrected this one during the inspection)

-Food protected from potential contamination and adulteration

* Cover all food in storage
* Store food 15 cm off the floor to prevent contamination
* Store foods in containers that can be readily cleaned and sanitized

-Toxic / poisonous substances (chemicals/pesticides) to be stored separately from food

* Store all toxic / poisonous substances below / separate from food

[and the non critical ones]

Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed and maintained

* Ensure equipment / utensil(s) / dishware are readily cleanable and in good repair

–Equipment, non-food contact surfaces and linen are maintained, designed, constructed, installed and accessible for cleaning

* Ensure all surfaces are clean and maintained in good repair

Food contact surfaces washed / rinsed / sanitized after each use and following any operations when contamination may have occurred

-Frequency of garbage removal adequate to maintain the premises in a sanitary condition

* Provide sufficient garbage containers of durable / leak proof / non-absorbent material
* Remove and store garbage as necessary to maintain sanitary conditions

-Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair

* Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
* Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair

-General housekeeping is satisfactory

* Maintain the premises in a clean and sanitary condition

[so the inspector came back the very next day!]

and found 2 criticals and 1 non-critical

Food protected from potential contamination and adulteration

* Cover all food in storage
* Store food 15 cm off the floor to prevent contamination
* Store foods in containers that can be readily cleaned and sanitized

Toxic / poisonous substances (chemicals/pesticides) to be stored separately from food

* Store all toxic / poisonous substances below / separate from food

[they corrected that during the inspection..]

[and the non critical]

Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair

* Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
* Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair

[and the inspector came back May 4th for another go at this mess]

This premise was found to be in compliance with the Ontario Food Premises Regulation.

Cate
14 May at 10:27
Ok veto. Jadeland in Chinatown?
D
14 May at 10:46
Jadeland is somewhat better…although it did not pass eitherCritical:

Separate raw foods from ready-to-eat foods during storage and handling

* Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods

(corrected during inspection)

Non-Critical:

Mechanical ventilation operable where required

* Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning

S
14 May at 11:12
where do you get these info?
D
14 May at 13:10
S just tried to hit me over the head with a conference phone box and then proceed to explain that me an Cate are going to be the first to die in a super bug outbreak.
S
14 May at 13:22
I did try to hit D. But I did not say Cater and D are going to die with the superbug. I just say that these places help boost your immune system and make you stronger in case of the Beef Flu.
Cate
14 May at 13:43
Boys, play nice!!D can you search for places that got good assessments?
Cate
14 May at 13:43
Btw does this service have an api?
R
14 May at 14:08
hahaa…aah what an optimistic bunch looking for a restaurant in china town that passes health inspection..
K
14 May at 14:11
Ha ha ha. I think we have the winner of the thread! :p
Cate
14 May at 14:13
How about just in Ottawa?
D
14 May at 14:22
I don’t know restaurants in Chinatown…But it is really easy to search *all* the restaurants in a particular city ward.

FYI there are a number around the uni such as father and sons, Royal Oak etc…that seem to pass.

Cate
14 May at 15:47
OK… not wild about pub food but if that’s all that’s safe to eat in town…
K
14 May at 15:52
And here my restaurant choices usually involve walking past a place and saying oh I’d like to try that. 😮
S
14 May at 17:36
Seriously… many of us has eaten at Chinatown for months/years now without contracting serious illness like food poisoning or herpes, it should be safe.
Cate
14 May at 18:01
Yep and I spent nearly 3 months in china and didn’t die. But I didn’t *know* what was going on!
S
14 May at 18:11
exactly, lets just do it.. what’s the worst? food poisoning or herpes..
Cate
14 May at 18:23
Tell ya what S, you can go if you like. I won’t be there! Who’s with me?
S
14 May at 18:30
I don’t want herpes so I won’t go. We’re with ya Cate. Just tell us where to go….
S
14 May at 18:30
and I’m with Cate…
S
14 May at 18:37
I’ll suggest Koreana, I’ve checked and nothing bad…
Cate
14 May at 18:47
OK!
G
14 May at 18:59
You guys are impressive!!!
I got tons of emails for a day, BUT seems got a place to eat at the end.
A suggestion: Don’t think and research much before you go a restuarant, especially Asian ones. This will hep you enjoy the food 🙂
D
14 May at 19:03
S how did you find that one in the registry…I can’t locate it
R
14 May at 19:11
i suggest sterling in hull or foundation in the market ! i am quite confident there shouldnt be a problem with inspection with either of these two
D
14 May at 19:28
Hull is annoying to get to and from and foundation is a bit pricey IMHO…this is why I was suggesting something a bit simpler and more conventional such as a pub or simple restaurant.
S
14 May at 20:19
Now I found the reason why I always feel sick for 2 days after I go to a restaurant in chinatown! lol
Cate
14 May at 20:30
hahahaha don’t you wish you didn’t know? 😉
Cate
14 May at 20:40
Right to resolve this situation I’m going to cook tomorrow night. You’re all welcome but please I need to know numbers and any dietary requirements. Food will not be gourmet but I can assure you that anything below 15 cms from the floor invariably goes in the bin.
Y
14 May at 20:56
Cate, you shouldn’t cook for all of us. I’m sure we can find a decent restaurant in Ottawa.
Cate
14 May at 21:17
No it’s fine I’ve decided. Dinner will be ready a bit after 7 but feel free to be early.If you feel really bad, I like tulips 🙂
D
14 May at 21:25
You know what…why don’t we just pick a pub?It is simple, easy, cheap, laid back, fun, and we might even be able to sit on a patio since it is a nice day tomorrow (depending on time as well).

Plus we don’t all feel guilty about Cate doing all the work.

S
14 May at 21:34
Cate: I’ll be there, and I feel bad now 🙁
S
14 May at 21:34
Cate: Tulips or Vitamin Water?
S
14 May at 21:38
Seriously Cate, we can find a resturant. Next time be dictatorial and say X is final!
D
14 May at 22:02
Father and Sons
The Royal Oak
The elephant and castle
The highlander
The Pour House
The Hard Rock Cafe
Darcy McGees
Cock and Lion

I can keep going….

Cate
14 May at 22:36
My place is final.Tulips and vitamin water are both fine. S, I expect both from you :-p hahaha
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