Food safety check
Inspectors swoop down on flea market food vendors

Food specialist Andrew Wilson checks his meat thermometer while inspecting the kitchen of Arthur and Estrella Villacana at the Gallup Flea Market Saturday. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Independent staff

GALLUP — New Mexico Environmental Health Division Food Specialist Andrew Wilson visited food vendors at the Gallup Flea Market Saturday and found one person selling burritos, chile and hot dogs without a permit and one person selling tamales without a permit.

A warning was issued to Sadie’s temporary food stand and Anglie Crispin’s food stand. Also a noncompliance inspection form was issued for Hummingbird Catering, selling food at the Gallup Flea Market that was not part of his permit for food prepared at his 809 Granite location in Gamerco.

Michelle Piena of Zuni said she regularly buys Lorena Silago’s roast mutton, which is her favorite thing to eat at the Flea Market. She thinks the Environmental Health Division should occasionally check food vendors at the Flea Market, but she’s never had a problem.

Gallup resident Ernie Bulow said he has been eating at the Flea Market for about 40 years and has “never, ever been sick.” He likes Silago’s roast mutton also but said there is a Navajo lady who comes from Shiprock “Who makes fabulous Navajo tamales. I don’t mind people getting inspected as long as they don’t get hassled,” he said. He added Silago’s keeps their thin slices of roast mutton in a hot water bath and everything is hot.

Other food venders with permits received an approved status after the inspection:

Vilicano’s Food Stand
Gallup Flea Market

The Saturday inspection found food prep surfaces needed to be sanitized. This was corrected immediately on site.

Begay’s Food Stand
Gallup Flea Market

No violations were found in Begay’s Food Stand.

Erlinda’s Tamale Shop
Gallup Flea Market

No violations were found at Erlinda’s Tamale Shop.

Gorditas Alejandra Food Stand
Gallup Flea Market

Two violations were found on Saturday; some hot holding temperatures were above 145 degrees and cold holding was at 56 degrees. Bare hand contact with foods needed to be improved and no soap was at the hand-washing sink. Owners Jose Olivas and Laura Herrera discarded some ham that was being held at the wrong temperature. A second visit that same day found improvements.