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Think twice about Chantel's Bakery

Discussion in 'Area Restaurants, Dining and Food' started by SarasMom, Apr 28, 2011.

  1. SarasMom

    SarasMom Member

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  2. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    mmm, REPs add flavor!
     
  3. Pluto

    Pluto New Member

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    hmm.....

    -- dead rodents found next to a cooler and the freezer containing raw materials
     
  4. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    YUCK. I just ordered my little man's birthday cake (Bean Tree does not allow for anything made with nuts), looks like I need to find another place. Darn-it, but thank you again for sharing.
     
  5. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    Try lolas in leesburg, they are nut free.
     
  6. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Redon, I :loveheart:you. You always have the 411, thanks for the rec I'll call them today.
     
  7. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    i heart you too Pea!!! please tell her that Renee from Northern virginia Magazine sent you! :)

    http://www.lolacookies.com/

    I've had their cupcakes and they are DIVINE!!!! from their website:

    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]Q: [/SIZE][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]I have a severe peanut allergy. Can I eat your cookies?[/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT]
    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]A: [/SIZE]
    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]Here is a summary of our peanut practices so you can make the call yourself.[/SIZE][/FONT]

    [SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica]When we opened our new store, we realized we had an opportunity to stop using peanut products. We discontinued all peanut-based cookie flavors. (We apologize to fans of our Peanut Butter Supercrunch cookies, which we admit were pretty tasty.)[/FONT][/SIZE]

    [SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica]Then we purchased a new mixer, new fridges, new pans, and a new oven. None of this equipment has ever been in contact with peanut products, and we don't stock any peanut-based ingredients in the store.[/FONT][/SIZE]

    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]Q: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]So you're entirely peanut-free, then?[/SIZE][/FONT]
    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]A: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]We do our absolute best, and we believe that flavors such as Oatmeal Raisin are peanut-free by any reasonable standard. However, we still use some ingredients, such as plain mini M+Ms, that are not warranted peanut-free by the manufacturer. We're talking about trace amounts, if any, but we don't want to mislead anyone.[/SIZE][/FONT]

    [SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica]To address any concerns, we wash our equipment thoroughly between flavors, and we use disposable parchment paper on the pans. If you need further reassurance, drop into the store: We bake in full view, and we're always happy to answer questions.[/FONT][/SIZE]

    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]Q: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]What about other nuts?[/SIZE][/FONT]
    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]A: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]We still use several other kinds of nuts in our products, including walnuts, almonds and pecans. Remember, we wash our equipment thoroughly between flavors, and we use disposable parchment paper on the pans.[/SIZE][/FONT]

    [SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica]All flavors without nuts are flagged as such on our cookie flavors page.[/FONT][/SIZE]

    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]Q: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]Do you offer any low-carb (or sugar-free, or fat-free) cookies?[/SIZE][/FONT]
    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]A: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]No.[/SIZE][/FONT]

    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]Q: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]Do you offer any gluten-free cookies?[/SIZE][/FONT]
    [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]A: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]Yes: Our chocolate macaroons contain no flour.[/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT]
     
  8. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Given the serious food and safety violations, why didn't the FDA shutter their doors until the corrections were made? Or make them post a sign so consumers are made aware of it.
     
  9. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Is it all that serious though?

    This isn't really much different from a county health inspector situation and we all know that so much more goes on there then what most people care to know about.. and tons of faults are found that are remedied without the mass audience ever even knowing.
     
  10. eam

    eam New Member

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    - large numbers of rodent excreta pellets (REPs) throughout the bakery, including on pallets and shelving containing finished food products, and in raw materials used for the cakes and pastries, and in and around manufacturing equipment


    Dead rodents near a freezer isn't so bad - but rodent poop "in raw materials" - YUCK!!!
     
  11. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    The FDA doesn't usually "investigate" a business for 2 months without good cause as noted in the report. Where was the Health Inspector? I suspect the facility had ongoing issues before the FDA was called to investigate. Rodents can transmit deadly diseases and dead rodents on the premises seems serious enough to close them down, at least temporarily. Lack of running hot water? What did the workers do after they used the bathroom? :scaredeyes: Food doesn't make people sick, bacteria and pathogens do.
     
  12. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    That's a great question.

    In LA and Orange County, CA... ALL food establishments are required to post their "grade" in the window of their establishment. This way potential patrons can see how the health department rates the eatery prior to actually ordering any food.

    I wish Virginia had the same type of grading/rating scale.
     
  13. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    This isn't some Dateline investigative report with undercover investigators. They just made several visits over a period of time.

    Where is the local inspector is the bigger question. My guess is this business wasn't registered as it was supposed to be with the FDA (a new requirement post-9/11) and that is what tripped a visit and the follow-ups. I doubt it was some escalation - just simply this agency following up on compliance for their rules.

    They didn't lack hot water - the hot water tap was broken in one sink.
     
  14. belmontguy

    belmontguy Member

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    Not impressed with their cakes
     
  15. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    this is an old report from their previous location. they moved very shortly after that report and have no infractions that I know of in the new place.
     
  16. We Love Disney

    We Love Disney New Member

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    We were thrilled with their GLUTEN FREE cake with whipped cream frosting and cheesecake middle. Just ordered for a birthday from NEW LOCATION. Actually it was the best cake we have ever had, gluten free or not. Very moist!!!!
     
  17. tjfsh

    tjfsh New Member

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    My son has severe food allergies and we recently tried the Joy of Cupcakes for a birthday party. The cupcakes were absolutely beautiful and delicious! They were allergen free and surprisingly affordable. This was the second allergy friendly bakery I tried and was blown away. The first experience I had with another baker wasn't as good. The cake was beautiful but did not taste nearly as good. I can't recommend Joy enough! She also delivers!

    http://www.thejoyofcupcakes.com/
     
  18. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    the conditions in the building likely had a lot to do with why they moved, they weren't the only tenants. no problems on the new location.

     
  19. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Sorry, but if you read the original article, it goes BEYOND the conditions of the building.

    They had never registered with the FDA as required by law; yep, that's the building's fault...:confused:
    Dead rodents next to their cooler; yep, that was from another tenant and they were waiting for them to come pick them up...:confused:
    They had no dumpster and they were using their warehouse as a 'disposal place'; yep, that's the fault of the other tenants also...:confused:

    You're saying that the conditions in the building had a lot to do with the issues? THEN WHY DID THEY STAY THERE? DID THEY NOT CARE? It's amazing how quickly they were able to move to a new location once the word was out about the conditions there...
    Personally, I don't care if they moved to a new place. They had BAD habits before and I'm not going to trust them any more and possibly put my family at risk.
     
  20. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    Eric....that is so true...in the end it says a lot about the proprietor - doesn't it?
     

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