Gross Out: Arriba! Thumbs in the Chicken at Mexican Grill

By Amy Silverman There were dents in the cans of diced peppers and hominy at Arriba Mexican Grill, 4649 E. Chandler Blvd, silverware "soiled with organic debris" and fundito sauce in the walk-in cooler for more than 24 hours. But the violation that stopped me was the following -- particularly...

By Amy Silverman

September 8, 2008

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By Amy Silverman

There were dents in the cans of diced peppers and hominy at Arriba Mexican Grill, 4649 E. Chandler Blvd, silverware "soiled with organic debris" and fundito sauce in the walk-in cooler for more than 24 hours.

But the violation that stopped me was the following -- particularly the remedy -- noted by the Maricopa County restaurant inspector:

"OBSERVED EMPLOYEE HOLDING COOKED CHICKEN IN A METAL CONTAINER WITH THUMBS IN THE CHICKEN. MANAGER REHEATED CHICKEN TO 165 DEGEES."

And then served it?

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Amy Silverman is the former managing editor of Phoenix New Times. She is a two-time winner of the Arizona Press Club’s Journalist of the Year award. Her work has appeared on the radio show This American Life and in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Lenny Letter, and Brain, Child.