Dynasty reopened after brief concern over potential health code violation

STERLING – Dynasty Chinese restaurant, traditionally one of the few, if not the only, restaurants in Sterling open on Christmas Day, was shuttered for the holiday this year because of fears of a potential health code violation – concerns that ultimately were shown to be unfounded.

The restaurant was inspected and reopened this morning.

According to the Whiteside County Health Department and Sterling Police, on Saturday morning, HVAC workers spotted "raw, unidentified meat" hanging from sawhorses on the restaurant's roof at 110 W. Third St., in the County Market shopping center.

They called police, who called the health department.

While "it certainly had the appearance of something very wrong," said Gene Johnston, the department's environmental health director, the meat simply was strips of salted pork owner Chen Yu was air-drying for his family's traditional Chinese New Year celebration, which is coming up on Jan. 28.

It never was meant for customer consumption, only for the family's personal use, Chen said.

Because the call came in on Christmas Eve, though, the health department did not have enough time before the holiday to properly investigate: Sunday was Christmas, and Monday the department was closed as its holiday day, so the restaurant, which was due for a routine inspection anyway, was closed as a precaution, Johnston said.

The inspection was done first thing this morning. The meat on the roof was gone, and Chen was advised to prepare the pork at his home from now on.

The inspection did turn up some minor infractions – missing labels, worn containers, dust and debris in the exhaust fans and vent hoods, among others – all of which must be rectified by Jan. 3, and none of which were deemed a hazard to the restaurant's operation.

THE REPORT

Go to shawurl.com/2yxc to see a copy of the Whiteside County Health Department's inspection report for Dynasty restaurant.