French says, riding a wave of compliments and good cheer into every corner of the kitchen. An 11-year veteran with the county's environmental health unit, French inspects about 30 restaurants a week, spending an average of 45 minutes at each stop. To that end, French hands out literature on everything from the proper cooling of meat to the correct calibration technique for metal-stem thermometers. French is responsible for about 270 food outlets in Redmond, including espresso carts, but he seldom finds reason to immediately shut any down. And he applies a high standard.
Restaurant inspectors hand out points for violations.
Thirty-five red points merit a reinspection within two weeks. A restaurant that racks up 75 red points is closed immediately. But the county health department doesn't have the funds to do three. Officials said they feel pretty confident that all restaurants get at least two inspections, though. Food inspector Larry French looks over some of the sauces at a Redmond restaurant.