image Food Establishment Inspection Report
Pursuant to Title 25-A of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations 		image
Health Regulation & Licensing Administration  •  Office of Food, Drug, Radiation, and Community Hygiene  •  2201 Shannon Place, SE - 2nd Floor  •  Washington, DC 20020
http://doh.dc.gov/service/food-safety      email: food.safety@dc.gov
Establishment Name  CUBA LIBRE(n)
Address  801 9TH ST NW
City/State/Zip Code  WASHINGTON, DC 20001
Telephone
 (202) 408-1600
 E-mail address  DCBILLING@CUBALIBRERESTAURANT.COM
Date of Inspection
 10
/
 24
/
 2017
    Time In
 12
:
 30
PM     Time Out
 02
:
 15
PM  
License Holder  Cuba Libre DC LLC
License/Customer No.  09313xxxx-23000302
License Period
 09 
/
 01 
/
 2016 
 - 
 08 
/
 03 
/
 2018 
 Type of Inspection
 Routine
Establishment Type:  Restaurant Total
    Risk Category 1
 
 2
 
 3
 
 4
 
 5
 
 
Priority Violations  2 COS  2 R  0
Priority Foundation Violations  3 COS  0 R  0
Core Violations  4 COS  0 R  0
Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM)
 ANGEL ROQUE GOMEZ 
CFPM #:  FS-78293 

CFPM Expiration Date:   11/10/2020  
D.C. licensed trash or solid waste contractor:
 Waste Management 
D.C. licensed sewage & liquid waste transport contractor:
 RTI 
D.C. licensed pesticide operator/contractor:
 Presto 
D.C. licensed ventilation hood system cleaning contractor:
 HadPro 
FOODBORNE ILLNESS RISK FACTORS AND PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
  Compliance Status COS R
  Supervision  
IN OUT 1. Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
 
 
IN OUT 2. Certified Food Protection Manager
 
 
  Employee Health  
IN OUT 3. Management, food employee, and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities, and reporting
 
 
IN OUT 4. Proper use of restriction and exclusion
 
 
IN OUT 5. Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
 
 
  Good Hygienic Practices  
IN OUT N/O 6. Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
 
 
IN OUT N/O 7. No discharge from eyes, nose, and mouth
 
 
  Control of Hands as a Vehicle of Contamination  
IN OUT N/O 8. Hands clean and properly washed
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 9. No bare hand contact with RTE foods or a pre-approved alternate procedure properly allowed
 
 
IN OUT 10. Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
 
 
  Approved Source  
IN OUT 11. Food obtained from approved source
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 12. Food received at proper temperature
 
 
IN OUT 13. Food in good condition, safe, and unadulterated
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 14. Required records available: shellstock tags, parasite destruction
 
 
  Protection from Contamination  
IN OUT N/A 15. Food separated and protected
 
 
IN OUT N/A 16. Food-contact surfaces: cleaned and sanitized
 
 
IN OUT 17. Proper disposition of returned, previously served, reconditioned, and unsafe food
 
 
  Potentially Hazardous Food (Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food)  
IN OUT N/A N/O 18. Proper cooking time and temperatures
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 19. Proper reheating procedures for hot holding
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 20. Proper cooling time and temperature
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 21. Proper hot holding temperatures
 
 
IN OUT N/A 22. Proper cold holding temperatures
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 23. Proper date marking and disposition
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 24. Time as a public health control: procedures and records
 
 
  Consumer Advisory  
IN OUT N/A 25. Consumer advisory provided for raw or undercooked foods
 
 
  Highly Susceptible Populations  
IN OUT N/A 26. Pasteurized foods used; prohibited foods not offered
 
 
  Chemical  
IN OUT N/A 27. Food additives: approved and properly used
 
 
IN OUT N/A 28. Toxic substances properly identified, stored, and used
 
 
  Conformance with Approved Procedures  
IN OUT N/A 29. Compliance with variance, specialized process, and HACCP plan
 
 
 
GOOD RETAIL PRACTICES
  Compliance Status COS R
  Safe Food and Water  
IN OUT N/A 30. Pasteurized eggs used where required
 
 
IN OUT 31. Water and ice from approved source
 
 
IN OUT N/A 32. Variance obtained for specialized processing methods
 
 
  Food Temperature Control  
IN OUT 33. Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 34. Plant food properly cooked for hot holding
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 35. Approved thawing methods used
 
 
IN OUT 36. Thermometers provided and accurate
 
 
  Food Identification  
IN OUT 37. Food properly labeled; original container
 
 
  Prevention of Food Contamination  
IN OUT 38. Insects, rodents, and animals not present
 
 
IN OUT 39. Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage, and display
 
 
IN OUT N/A 40. Personal cleanliness
 
 
IN OUT 41. Wiping cloths: properly used and stored
 
 
IN OUT N/A N/O 42. Washing fruits and vegetables
 
 
  Proper Use of Utensils  
IN OUT 43. In-use utensils: properly stored
 
 
IN OUT 44. Utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried, and handled
 
 
IN OUT 45. Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored and used
 
 
IN OUT N/A 46. Gloves used properly
 
 
  Utensils, Equipment, and Vending  
IN OUT 47. Food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used
 
 
IN OUT 48. Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, and used; test strips
 
 
IN OUT 49. Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
 
 
  Physical Facilities  
IN OUT 50. Hot and cold water available; adequate pressure
 
 
IN OUT 51. Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
 
 
IN OUT 52. Sewage and waste water properly disposed
 
 
IN OUT 53. Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, and cleaned
 
 
IN OUT 54. Garbage and refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
 
 
IN OUT 55. Physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
 
 
IN OUT 56. Adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas used
 
 
IN = in compliance OUT = not in compliance N/O = not observed
N/A = not applicable COS = corrected on-site R = repeat violation
Establishment Name  CUBA LIBRE(n)    Establishment Address  801 9TH ST NW
OBSERVATIONS 25 DCMR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
9. - An employee used his bare hands to handle plantains. The plantains were discarded and an employee donned gloves to handle food. (Corrected On Site)  800.2 Except when washing fruits and vegetables as specified in Section 806 or as specified in Section 800.4 food employees shall not contact exposed, ready to eat food with their bare hands and shall use suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, single-use gloves or dispensing equipment. P  
10. - There are no paper towels at the handwashing sink at the bar.(CORRECT VIOLATION WITHIN 3 CALENDAR DAYS)  3002.1 Each handwashing sink or group of adjacent sinks shall be provided with: (a) Individual, disposable towels; Pf (b) A continuous towel system that supplies the user with a clean towel; Pf (c) A heated-air hand drying device that is provided in addition to other hand-drying devices at sinks used for food preparation or warewashing areas; Pf or (d) A hand drying device that employs an air-knife system that delivers high velocity, pressurized air at ambient temperatures. Pf  
10. - There is no handwashing signage at the handwashing sink at the bar.(CORRECT VIOLATION WITHIN 14 CALENDAR DAYS)  3004.1 A sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands shall be provided at all handwashing sinks used by food employees and shall be clearly visibly to food employees.  
16. - The mechanical dishwasher was not reaching adequate temperature to sanitize dishes. A chemical sanitizer was provided to sanitize dishes. (Corrected On Site)  2001.1 Utensils and food-contact surfaces of equipment shall be sanitized before use after cleaning. P  
29. - The location is conducting reduced oxygen packaging (ROP) and sous vide without a variance. The location has a HACCP plan, logs, proper labeling procedures, and proper cooling procedures. (CORRECT VIOLATION WITHIN 3 CALENDAR DAYS)  1010.1 A food establishment shall obtain a variance from the Department as specified in Sections 4102, 4103, and 4104 before: (a) Smoking food as a method of food preservation rather than as a method of flavor enhancement; Pf (b) Curing food; Pf (c) Using food additives or adding components such as vinegar as a method of food preservation rather than as a method of flavor enhancement or to render a food so that it is not potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety food); Pf (d) Packaging food using a reduced oxygen method except where the growth of and toxin formation by Clostridium botulinum and the growth of Listeria monocytogenes are controlled as specified in Section 1011; Pf (e) Operating a molluscan shellfish life-support system display tank used to store or display shellfish that are offered for human consumption; Pf (f) Custom processing animals that are for personal use as food and not for sale or service in a food establishment; (g) Preparing food by another method that the Department determines requires a variance; Pf or (h) Sprouting seeds or beans. Pf  
32. - The location has not applied for a variance for ROP and sous vide. (CORRECT VIOLATION WITHIN 3 CALENDAR DAYS)  4103.2 A request for a variance shall contain the following information, which shall be retained in the Department's file on the food establishment: (a) The specified provision(s) of this Code from which the variance is requested; (b) The reasons why the requirements of the provision(s) cannot be met; (c) Alternative measures that will be taken to ensure a comparable degree of protection to public health, safety, and the environment if a variance is granted; (d) Whether a HACCP Plan, as specified in Section 4202 is involved that includes information specified under Section 4205 that is relevant to the variance request; (e) The length of time for which the variance is requested; and (f) A statement that the party applying for the variance will agree to comply with the terms of any variance, if one is granted.  
43. - An employee at the bar scooped ice using a utensil without a handle. (CORRECT VIOLATION WITHIN 14 CALENDAR DAYS)  810.1 During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, food preparation and dispensing utensils shall be stored: (a) Except as specified in Section 810.1(b), in the food with their handles above the top of the food and the container; (b) In food that is not potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety food) with their handles above the top of the food within containers or equipment that can be closed, such as bins of sugar, flour, or cinnamon; (c) On a clean portion of the food preparation table or cooking equipment only if the in-use utensil and the food contact surface of the food preparation table or cooking equipment are cleaned and sanitized at a frequency specified in Sections 1901 and 2001; (d) In running water of sufficient velocity to flush particulates to the drain, if used with moist food such as ice cream or mashed potatoes; (e) In a clean, protected location if the utensils, such as ice scoops, are used only with a food that is not potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety food); or (f) In a container of water if the water is maintained at a temperature of at least fifty-seven degrees Celsius (57 degrees C) (one hundred thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit (135 degrees F)) and the container is cleaned at a frequency specified in Section 1901.3.  
48. - There are no chemical test strips available to measure the concentration of the sanitizing solution.(CORRECT VIOLATION WITHIN 3 CALENDAR DAYS)  1608.1 A test kit or other device that accurately measures the concentration in micrograms per liter (mg/L) of sanitizing solutions shall be provided. Pf  
55. - The wall in the dish area is unclean. (CORRECT VIOLATION WITHIN 14 CALENDAR DAYS)  3201.1 The physical facilities shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean.  
 
Sanitizer: Quaternary Ammonium, 300 ppm, 0.0 pH, 00.0°F 
Temperatures
 Item/Location Temp  Item/Location Temp  Item/Location Temp  Item/Location Temp
salsa (Ice) (Cold Holding) 39.0F Shrimp raw (Freezer) (Cold Holding) -3.0F Sauce (Walk-in Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 36.0F Spinach (Walk-in Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 37.0F
Chicken (Walk-in Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 36.0F Pork (Walk-in Refrigerator) (Cooling) 38.0F Dairy Products (Walk-in Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 41.0F Shrimp raw (Refrigerator - drawer) (Cold Holding) 36.0F
Mushrooms (Sandwich Prep Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 38.0F Eggplant (Sandwich Prep Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 41.0F Soup (Soup Warmer) (Hot Holding) 145.0F Hot Water (Handwashing Sink - Bar) 103.0F
Pineapples (Ice) (Cold Holding) 38.0F Hot Water (Warewashing Machine - Rinse Cycle) 130.0F Dairy Products (Reach-in Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 41.0F Juice (Reach-in Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 41.0F
Shrimp raw (Reach-in Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 41.0F Sauce (Reach-in Refrigerator) (Cold Holding) 38.0F        
Inspector Comments:
Correct items within 3-days.
Correct items within 14-days.

Please submit the HACCP plan and variance request form with fees to HACCP.plans@dc.gov.
DC Health does not assign a grade, percentage, or rating for establishment inspection reports. We perform a pass-fail inspection. The amount of Priority, Priority Foundation, and Core violations are tallied at the top of each inspection report. DC Health also performs follow up inspections to ensure the violations which were cited on the initial report have been corrected. To view an establishment's inspection report, follow this link: https://dc.healthinspections.us.
  Angel Roque 10/24/2017
 Person-in-Charge (Signature) (Print) Date
    Douglas Dalier 082  10/24/2017 
  Inspector (Signature) (Print) Badge # Date
    2023