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Um, eating out, I just turn a blind eye or I'd never eat out. Unless a roach crawls across my plate (yes, that's happened to me) I ask no questions.

At home I'm Felix Unger. Go figure.

OMG!!! They touched the pizza? With their BARE HANDS??? How will we ever survive?

Seriously though, that's just bullsh** that they got closed down for something so, absolutely, NORMAL. IMHO as a former food service professional, I think requring cooks to wear gloves is just stupid. They are a waste of time, make people clumsy and slow them down. They don't prevent illnesses. Most illnesses that happen in the food industry in recent history have to do with food contaminated before it ever gets to the restaurant. I believe cross contamination to be a greater risk with gloved workers because they can't feel it when they touch something like raw meat juices. If they don't feel it, they don't wash and are more likely to spread contaminants on a glove than on their bare hands.

My friend's wife expressed an interest in learning about the use and care of cast iron skillets and dutch ovens. Being a big fan of cast iron, I tried to explain to her that you never use soap on a good, seasoned cast iron skillet. That did it for her. She said she couldn't handle the 'no soap' routine.

I would say "it depends". If I am eating any sort of raw food (e.g. sashima) I tend to shy away from low end sushi places (although that rule doesn't apply when I am actually in Japan) or raw oysters from say hooters. Otherwise I don't care. Its all about risk management isn't it? If a restaurant is making people sick - that place will not last long. Internationally I've eaten at places when a cat or, at least in one case, a chicken jumps on the table.

its more about genetics than anything - my family tends to be long lived (if you die before age 85 - its usually a tractor accident) and most spend their times eating the most vile stuff at the most vile places (country buffet, anyone?)...

If I was clean obsessed I would never eat at most Asian restaurants.

If it tastes good, I'll eat it. I figure it will help build my immune system.

I work in a hospital in a clinical position. I have also had a lengthy hospitalization with an infection due to human transmitted disease. Therefore, I am super-senstive re: sanitation issues.

I think someday I will die of "spitcake" poisoning - my in-laws relight the birthday candles several times so my nephews can blow them out over and over again - and they are droolers.

Mostly I do not worry about it too much, but dude, if restaurants were run by little kids who go to day care/kindergarten, I'd never go out to eat.

yeah, i live in NC, where every food establishment gets a grade. sorry, jerzee, but 94% is pretty shady! most of the cleanest places are close to or over 100%. even so, stupid violations (too small of a workspace, improper ventilation, etc.) can pull a score down, so it's hard to know why some places get the higher grades and others don't.

I would have to agree with a previous poster, I always check the restroom!
Also make sure you look at your server especially their hands, I'm more concerned about the trip from the kitchen to the table than I am about the kitchen! At home, well everything is clean and I'm careful about cross contamination. But again I worry more about where I purchased the food than how I prepare it. The only time I ever got sick was from food that had been contaminated at the grocery store. (prepared potato salad)

Yeah, it's worth the risk. I've gotten sick once or twice, but that is bound to happen. One time it was from a local pizzeria that I've frequented for years, and another time it was from chicken teriyaki prepared at home by a relative. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I believe regardless of how careful I am, food poisoning is just something that happens from time to time.

Of course, if I see something that doesn't look or smell right, you can be sure I won't be putting it in my mouth.

At home, I'm a little clean obsessed, but I am indeed a very messy cook. I consider messy and dirty two totally different issues. Now if you leave the mess sit and don't clean it up in a timely manner, it then becomes filth, in my estimation.

We dine out alot, so at some point I force myself to become oblivious to small things or I would be dining at home much more frequently. My first observation at the table is generally that of the silverware. If they are not immaculate, I ask for new. Next is the glassware, which is very obvious if not spotless and free of any gunk. It has always been my contention that the mark of a good restaurant is the cleanliness and tidiness of the restrooms. If they don't care that there is a layer of fuzzy fur on their plastic flowers and wet paper towels are overflowing onto the floor then they are not apt to pay attention to detail elsewhere either. It never occurred to me to accidentally walk into the kitchen, but that is a great idea.

This thread brings to memory very bad experiences at TGI McFunster's. Repeated, heinous experiences. I used to live fairly close to one, and it was one of the more "upscale" restaurants in the area. haha... Nonetheless, dining companions were constantly insisting on the place for convenience. One time, I found a plastic wheel from some sort of kitchen implement in my spring roll. When I complained, to their credit, they did ask if I would prefer some cottage cheese or applesauce. Then another time I ordered a BLT and the B was raw, never having seen the inside of a skillet. This is the biggie - another time I ordered a shrimp cocktail and pulled a piece of raw chicken out of the bowl. When I complained, they offered to bring me another app, so while I was waiting, (watching my companions enjoy their food and the servers go in and out of the kitchen), I could see the servers sitting on the food prep counters in the kitchen. Three of them SITTING on the counters!!! Why don't people notice that the food there tastes like a_ _?