Eat & Drink
Rats Invade Happy Seven?
Does Happy Seven (one of Toronto's most favourited late night Chinese restaurants) have a rat problem?
According to Jesse Ship, Arts Editor of Format Magazine, it just might. He took what he says is a photo of a rat in the window of this popular Chinatown restaurant on his way to work this morning.
In his words: I was just walking past happy Seven today on Spadina and snagged images of a rat in the window on my cell phone, sitting right next to the health inspector sign. The restaurant wasn't open yet.
Here's a closer look: Update! A video that confirms this is a rat has now been posted on Vimeo. It's embedded below.
If it is a rat, this would of course just be the latest in ongoing rat infestations in the area. It was only back in mid February when we stumbled upon a photo of rats having their way with things at the nearby Dumpling House.
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What's worse about it being next to the TO Public Health sign is that the inspection was on October 2nd - a mere 6 days ago. How do you miss shit like this?
I'd put this back on the Public Health inspectors. That's a HUGE miss.
That rat is "Recommend by Toronto Life"? On what criteria?
looks like they've had pest problems in the past:
http://app.toronto.ca/food2/DineSafeMain?userRequest=view_history&;ESTABLISHMENT_ID=9006643
When it comes to public health and dine safe, they must know of the rodent/insect problems in the area.
Is there an "acceptable" amount of rats/roaches?
I really don't get it.
Nice
This one ends with just "Only this time, " and the Michel de Broin Nuit Blanche preview just ended with "Broin" on a single line.
tao means rat flavoured in Chinese
Yes, and no. If you're located in a 100 year old building that is physically attached to other buildings on both sides it's going to be nearly impossible to keep the place 100% pest-free. It's just like how I don't expect to never find a cockroach in my apartment building -- its impossible to completely make them go away. I'm content with seeing a cockroach every few weeks, which is the way it is.
If a restaurant finds mouse droppings in the dark damp corners of their basement and no live vermin, its probably not a big deal. If there are rats dancing on the stove while the kitchen's closed you've got a problem.
Much ado about nothing, meat eaters.
the worst is when rats tigger and rabbit on food, people get up in arms
Oh, and that rat is almost the same size as my cat!
No it doesn't. General Tao is just a name, the military occupation general and a surname Tao. You and Mark Dowling need to take your racism somewhere else.
Did you contact CityNews as well? I'm curious if they had a different tipster, or if they just felt like being bold and calling it a "CityNews Exclusive" even though the story was already published here. :)
I don't understand why people are bashing Toronto Public Health, it's not the inspector's fault the rats got into the restaurant. You should blame the restaurant owner for not monitoring his/her place.
Rats and cockroaches are a problem, but they're more common then you think.
@jerrold- i still have NO idea how citytv got the lockdown..i think toronto health is in cahoots with them, or maybe they have some reporters listening in on their frequencies because that rat couldnt have been there for more than 20 minutes...
I'm guessing it was the combined effort of BlogTO, City, Torontoist and whatever other media posted this story that sealed Happy 7's fate... good to know a little public pressure still gets things done.
"Almost there," she says.
We got up and walked out.
There's nothing to worry about here.
and btw, that is a normal size rat.. they get even bigger than that...
Look at that Rat, it is so fat, it does not even have to worry about getting caught, it just sit there and act cute looking at the camera. It shows that he's part of the pet in the family (obviously), street rats will run like no tomorrow.
I can't BELIEVE you said that.
I'm living in Cali now and I would do anything to get back there for their soft shell crab, even have dinner with one of the rats!
Where do you eat then you fucking dirty dick?
I really hope its not at the Keg or Casey's which have been shut down for rodents aswell.
Head back to Acton big boy.
That is why Toronto Health has to look at the entire block of businesses and apartments. Those critters will continue to move from place to place.
If you haven't eaten chinese food in 15 years, it's time to get your fat french fry, burger and chicken finger loving a$$ outta your trailor and FYI, general tao and chicken balls ain't chinese food. It's clown food.
There should be a cut off where you are closed for good
Hey haters, this is BlogTo not Youtube! Don't post if you're not going to add to the topic and spew hate and racism.
@ Jerrold: I was watching Citynews this morning and they credited BlogTO for the story... :-)
not all Chinese people are like that...and it's depressing to see people paint us all with the same brush... no self respecting Chinese person would ever eat sweet and sour anything...that's what we call "gwai lo" food: cuisine invented by white people that's intended to be "Chinese" to lure people, but not invented or eaten by Chinese people...
There are other cultures besides the Chinese who are CHEAP. A businessman in China said that the American businessmen were too cheap and he only works with European and Japanese companies.
This is an ignorant and wrong statement: "It's also a known fact that they are the most racist people on the planet, that they believe that they will one day rule the world, because of their numbers."
If China wanted to rule the world thru their population numbers, then why does China have a one baby per family rule? So obviously, your statement is wrong.
"if it moves, ch**** will eat it"
That clearly displays your RACISM. It is also racist because you are generalizing to a whole population. Once you spew hatred like that, especially openly in a forum, we have to take your whole post as biased against a particular group (Chinese in this case) so you lose any credibility. You could have easily made your points without showing what a hate-filled a-hole you really are. Too late though.
"Rob" - some of your points may have merit but at times you are generalizing to all Chinese and that would be racist. If grocery stores along Spadina, run by Chinese people, are unhygienic then it is those Chinese business people for which your comments should be directed. I know of many Chinese people who are very hygienic and don't consume foods that may even hint at being contaminated or "dirty". And they don't eat anything "exotic" or animal insides, etc. Many varied cultures do eat animal organs, and what we would consider "exotic" animals, but that's beside the point.
(Coincidentally, I'm in China right now as I am typing this, and Mikey doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about. Surprise, surprise.)
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/514701
Is the Health Department waiting for something major to happen before they act? Should we wait for an outbreak? This is pourely people just doing the BARE MINIMUM at their jobs. So if no one has died, there is no problem?
Should we not have preventative measures? Defensive actions?
Between this, the bedbugs and what ever comes next, I have little faith in Toront Health Department.
Heads should roll.
You want restaurants to be closed due to little problems? I would say ALL restaurants would be shut down. For those of you that have not worked in a food industry, let me tell you something, NO restaurant is perfect, yes i said NO RESTAURANT.
Think for a bit, at the end of the day, what's the purpose of closing a restaurant? so they can fix the problem, learn their lesson. of couse those with problems get reopened.
For Rob and Mikey, the two who seem to hate chinese from the bottom of their heart. I think both of you should really RELAX for a sec and look at the bigger picture. In fact, travel to china and see how "dirty" it is. EDUCATE YOURSELVES!
The world's a big place, drop whatever traumatic experience you've had with Chinese/Asians and *move on*.
maybe you should tell her you have lots of cash and a big cock?
I too have worked in Restaurants, for 18 years actually. Yes, most Toronto restaurants have issues, but not all, or any of the many restaurants I have worked in have had infestation. I have seen the odd mouse, who if addressed promptly is not an issue.
Yes it is the restaurants responsibility for the problems and for correcting them. However, looking at the history of some of the restaurants in the area, majority have been hit with "Operator fail to provide adequate pest control" and
"Operator fail to prevent a rodent infestation" should this not ring alarm bells?
If an area is infested with rats and is a health concern, than who is responsible?? Not one building, not one restaurant, a section of downtown. If a health inspector finds infestation, what do they do? Write a fine, give them a yellow then go on break? Someone should be looking at this whole DINE SAFE thing on bigger level, not one individual establishment.
How many times can a drunk driver drive drunk before he can't drive again?
Outrage at eating dog seems pretty ridiculous to me when most people are perfectly fine with eating pigs (who are quite smart), and cows and sheep (who are pretty cute), along with chicken and fish and all the rest. They all feel pain, too.
Dogs and cats are animals just like the rest. We love them and value them, but the cries that it's awful to eat them ring false from someone digging into a nice, juicy steak, or enjoying a chicken-burger. If the thought of the pain and hurt a cute little dog gets to them, why don't they care about other cute animals?
Hindus value cows, we value dogs. It's all just meat, and killing them for food when we could be raising crops on their feeding ground is irresponsible: especially when you consider that being jostled into a slaughterhouse or being caught in a yard and having your throat cut or electrical current in your brain or shot in the head all sucks, regardless of the species.
"I have lots of Chinese friends".
I love how you pulled that card. As if it makes everything you said okay.
*
I think we know that most people in Toronto are of sound mind and completely accepting of all people and cultures. Let's remember and focus on that. Take a deep breath and forget what Mikey and Rob said. They are the minority.
Just like our Grandma's always used to say, If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!
As well, a lot of buildings have vermin problems due to cracks in the foundation and garbage pileups in the alleys. The Toronto Public Health unit does what they can to have these issues resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible, but they cannot keep all locations under surveillance 24/7.
For your information, if a rat infestation IS evident, the location will ALWAYS receive either a conditional pass or a fail, depending upon the severity of the issue. In both instances, the TPH will check back on the location until they have solved the problem, otherwise they may be faced with a fine or penalty.
I totally agree with what you wrote. But rodents such as rats don't always hang around the same restaurant, they move around. If the health inspector don't see the rats during inspection should he/she still close down the restaurant? just like police officers need evidence to lock people away, health inspectors need evidence to close down a restaurant or fine the owner.
The inspector who did the inspection on Oct. 2, 2008 of happy seven didn' see any thing wrong with the restaurant AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION so he/she cann't do anything other than pass them.
Chinatown has some of the oldest buildings in toronto, and in chinatown there will always be rats, it's a matter of how to control them and keep out of the food premise. I believe that is still the restaurant owner's responsibility.
Thanks "j" for the comment
As for all you idiots playing the "rat for dinner" BS - try living in a communist country. You'll find that having pets - or birds in the sky or rats in the sewers - are pretty effing rare when you're starving. If the Chinese eat rat, it isn't because it's a g-damn delicacy. Have a little compassion.
RG
i think the downtown area of toronto is having a rat problem in the sewers- thats y u see rats all over the place
If the problem is that "downtown toronto is having rat problem in the sewers" which I totally agree on, the government should take responsibility and help get rid of this issue. There's only so much a restaurant owner can do to control pests on their premise. If the infestation exists in the sewers that is the responsibility of the givernment, they should do their part to ensure the infestation is controls underground.
I guess they couldn't handle all the negative publicity.
I guess they couldn't handle all the negative publicity.