The Scott County Health Department is hopping mad at a local chef who licked toads in his restaurant kitchen — and is seen doing so on YouTube.
Health inspectors have fined the owner of Davenport’s Osaka Restaurant $335. That, after his head chef was videotaped kissing and licking toads in the kitchen.
The video ended up on the Internet. On the video, chef Christopher Turla is shown with two small toads on the food preparation table. He kisses them a few times, licks them, then stuffs them into his mouth. The chef says his brother videotaped it and posted it as a joke.
WQAD-TV, which broke the story, quotes food inspector Lindsay Gorishek as saying Turla committed several health violations during the video. So, Osaka owner Yidi When was called in and ticketed. He says the chef is a funny guy who needs more restaurant sanitation training.
The health department cited Osaka in June for 14 non-toad-related violations.
By Phil Roberts, Davenport