Osaka Japanese Steak House in Davenport is known for putting on a show at its hibachi tables, but the show one of its chefs put on in the kitchen this week has the popular restaurant in hot water.
"It's one of the most bizarre cases I've ever seen," Lindsay Gorishek, an inspector for the Scott County Health Department told TV-6. "He was putting the frogs in his mouth. He was licking them and kissing them. He was letting them jump around on the food prep table," Gorishek explained.
The Scott County Health Department's inspection report lists numerous violations for things like hygienic practices and food protection, but health officials say the bottom line is the chef should have known better.
"He should know not to bring frogs into the restaurant in the first place. It's just unsanitary," Gorishek said.
The chef, Christopher Turla known as TaiMaiShu among customers, says he was done cooking for the night and the restaurant was about to close. Still, he admits he made a mistake.
"I don't know how to explain myself," Turla said. "It was a dare or a prank or a joke, whatever you call it."
The Chef's brother, another Osaka employee, was the one who videotaped the incident. He then posted it to his Facebook page. The brother quickly took it down, but the damage was already done.
Health inspectors say if anything similar to the frog incident ever happens again at the Davenport Osaka, they could close the restaurant. The chef involved insists that won't happen.
"What I did is wrong and I know that and we have a ticket for that. I will never do that again. I will never do that again. I'm sorry," Turla said.
The Scott County Health Department issued the restaurant a $335 fine. The owner and a manager also have to take a food safety and sanitation class.
