Latest News – March 29

 Leadville Eateries: Trained and Ready to Serve 

The restaurant business is tough. So when you add 10,200 feet and a remote location to the equation, the odds get even bigger. The odds for success, the odds for finding decent employees, and the odds for customer loyalty.

Quincys Steaks & Spirits was first opened in October of 1997 in the heart of historic Leadville. Photo: Quincys.

So for all those Leadville restaurants who have stuck out the highs and lows, and continue to WIN against the odds, by merely keeping the doors open – Congratulations!

And, add to that sentiment, a hearty “Good Job!”  Because when it comes to a renewed commitment to food safety and staff training, your efforts are being realized.

“I am excited to report that as of today – March 26, 2015 – Lake County has 81 Food Safety Training Staff!” reported Jackie Littlepage, Director of Environmental Health/Health Inspector at the Lake County Public Health Agency (LCPHA), in a letter addressed to Lake County Retail Food Establishments.

In fact, Littlepage has been the driving force behind local efforts to provide easy-to-attend, customized online trainings for Lake County restaurant employees. In November 2012, LCPHA partnered up with www.statefoodsafety.com to offer low-cost, engaging, online courses. Since then, 12 managers and 69 food handlers have completed the program.

Most recently, noted Littlepage in her report, High Mountain Institute was latest establishment to be awarded the Food Safety Trained Staff Decal by completing the requirements of the Lake County Food Safety Recognition Program.

As part of her job, Littlepage executes state-regulated health inspections for all food establishments in Lake County. And most would agree that in recent years under Littlepage’s direction, the inspections have been carried out in a more professional, standardized manner than had been in recent years.

Jackie Littlepage (back, right), Director of Environmental Health/Health Inspector at the Lake County Public Health Agency conducts the first ever Lake County Retail Food Meeting in February 2014 to a full class of local eateries. Photo: Leadville Today.

And while her initial enforcement of more stringent guidelines was met with the usual resistance, Littlepage has been able to balance that with a more invested approach toward local eateries. Part of that commitment, includes providing them with the resources for staff education and training. Prior to that, Leadville businesses encountered a more “figure it out, but you’d better comply” attitude from county health inspectors.

The current model which includes components from hosting regular Lake County Retail Food Meetings, to publicly congratulating local eateries with Excellence in Food Safety Awards, Littlepage’s approach brings an end result that is a shining WIN-WIN for the county.

So if you’re hanging close to home for Spring Break or perhaps visiting during yours, be sure to take in all the culinary enjoyment Leadville has to offer. Lake County has a staff of well-trained, food safety experts. Oh, and the grub ain’t bad either. Bon Appetite!

If you have any questions, contact Jackie Littlepage 719-486-7481 or 719-427-0179 or by email: jlittlepage@co.lake.co.us