Joe Germanotta, also known as Lady Gaga’s dad, isn’t exactly happy with the results of a recent Department of Health inspection at his New York City restaurant.
His thoughts and feelings were soon shared to his followers on Twitter.
During an inspection at Joanne Trattoria last week, officials found a total of 19 violations. According to Eater, three of these violations were considered critical. Cleanliness was apparently a big problem with inspectors, not to mention the “contaminated” and “cross-contaminated” food they reportedly discovered in the kitchen.
All of these violations were enough to downgrade the restaurant from an A to a B. Although this may sound pretty bad, the restaurant has certainly seen darker days. The Daily Mail reports Joanne Trattoria received a C last August after inspectors uncovered 42 violations.
Clearly unhappy about the situation, Lady Gaga’s dad decided to vent his frustrations on Twitter. Germanotta posted a string of angry messages directed at the Department of Health last Wednesday, though they seem to have carried over into this week. You can find them below.
Great story of NYC making progress, money and corruption. We had a bad potato in a bin with 40 good potatoes.
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
It wasn’t being served to a customer, it was raw, and when the inspector pointed it out we threw it away. How many bad veggies do you toss?
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
I’m sure Bloomberg should toss more than 1 a day.
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
Regardless, the inspector gave us 7 points for a bad potato in a storage bin on our health department inspection,
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
that shifted us from an A to a B or Grade Pending, inspector said it was our choice.
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
The inspectors name was Ehruns Belo-Osagle, hope I spelled it right, Badge 3293.Another $50M food inspector representing the City of NY.
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
Here’s my violations at 10:40 pm after the kitchen has been closed for 40 minutes. Potato Peeler 5 points — We were cleaning
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
Bad Potato in storage bin – 7 points— It wasnt being served
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
Ice Scoop not in a storage holder, it was in the dish machine – 5 points
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
Wash hands sign at waiters station – 2 points —-I’ll put one up tomorrow, but we use this as a water station, not a hand sink
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
He took our A and left B or Grade Pending sign, our choice to display. Seems a little harsh.
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
After going on to identify a few people in the Department of Health — there’s no point in sharing that information here — Lady Gaga’s dad decided to state the obvious.
Sorry guys and gals, Mister G is angry.
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 13, 2013
Days after his initial rant, Germanotta tweeted the following:.
Here is the filthy thermometer used by the health inspector. Nice pic.twitter.com/HbHjj7QK1o
— Joe Germanotta (@germanottajoe) June 18, 2013
What do you think about Lady Gaga’s dad getting angry about a recent Department of Health inspection? Do you believe his Twitter tirade will make things worse for the guy going forward?
[Image via Joanne Trattoria / Facebook]
I don't think this tirade helps but I certainly understand. If you get the wrong inspector it can really make things difficult. The fact is is that any inspector can go in to most restaurants and find a million things wrong because of all the different ways to violate the health code. Most inspectors look for things that make it unsafe for diners to eat there…food stored improperly, unsafe or unclean food preparation, and cross contamination are the biggies. If you get an inspectors bad side though they can count you off for a ton of different things that I wouldn't categorize as unsafe for diners. Things like signage and cracked floor tiles.
By the book chuck!! A very well known inspector in Palmdale. could not even nail two boards together. The single most critical person I have ever encountered. Over time I came to welcome his visits. I learned more from being delayed by the unfortunate twists of fate that put the one inspector that everyone feared into our project then probably two more years in the field
I greatly admire the Germanottas for standing up to this tyrant. Although our taste runs more to Carly Simon and James Taylor than it does to Lady Gaga, our taste definitely runs to Italian food. We will be making a visit to Joanne's Trattoria in the near future, and will be sure to order, among many other things, a 20 oz. bottle of non-diet Coke.