Inspection Report
El Encanto De La Fuente
11044 N SAGUARO BLVD FOUNTAIN HILLS AZ 85268
FD-15143
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking
Food Routine Inspection
3/24/2026
Not Participating
3
Completed
Violations
Violation #: 2
Description: Certified Food Protection Manager
Comments:
2-102.12(A) - Core: Certified Food Protection Manager. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these resources on our website. https://www.maricopa.gov/5114/Food-Restaurants Addl Notes: The person in charge (PIC) is not a certified food protection manager. Ensure the PIC on site is an ANSI-certified food protection manager and maintain the certificate available for review. (A) The PERSON IN CHARGE shall be a certified FOOD protection manager who has shown proficiency of required information through passing a test that is part of an ACCREDITED PROGRAM. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
Violation #: 8
Description: Hands Clean and Properly Washed
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-2-301.14 - Priority: When to Wash. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4573/AMC-Toolbox: Handwashing.
Addl Notes: At in use warewashing machine, employee handled dirty dishware then handled clean dishware without a proper handwash in between each task. Instructed employee to rewash dishware then wash hands to continue with task. Discussed the importance of proper hand washing and when hand washing is required with the person-in-charge (PIC). Hands are to be washed at any time contamination occurs and when changing tasks. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 9
Description: No Bare Hand Contact with RTE Foods or a Pre-Approved Alternate Properly Followed
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-301.11(B) - Priority: Preventing Contamination from Hands. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4573/AMC-Toolbox: Handwashing.
Addl Notes: At bar, employee handled ready to eat cut fruit with bare hands. Employee discarded cut fruit and instructed employee to use provided tongs for handling ready to eat fruit for drinks. Discussed the importance of preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat (RTE) foods with the person-in-charge (PIC). Bare hand contact is not approved with ready-to-eat (RTE) food items. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 16
Description: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned and Sanitized
Comments:
4-601.11(A) - Priority Foundation: Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood-Contact Surfaces, and Utensils. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4574/AMC-Toolbox---Food-Contact-Surfaces. Addl Notes: In back prep room, on magnetic knife strip, knives stored with food debris on blades. Per person in charge, knives are to be stored as clean on strip. All knives were moved to be re-warewashed and magnetic knife strip to be washed. All food-contact surfaces are to be cleaned to sight and touch. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 28
Description: Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, and Used; Held for Retail Sale, Properly Stored
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-7-207.11 (B) - Priority: Restriction and Storage-Medicine; Storage & labeling
Addl Notes: On cook line, personal medication bottle stored over open prep table cooler. Personal medication bottle was removed from cook line to prevent contamination. (B) Medicines that are in a FOOD ESTABLISHMENT for the EMPLOYEES' use shall be labeled as specified under § 7-101.11and located to prevent the contamination of FOOD, EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, LINENS, and SINGLE-SERVICE and SINGLE-USE ARTICLES. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 33
Description: Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment for Temperature Control
Comments:
3-501.15 (A) - Priority Foundation: Cooling Methods. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4617/AMC-Toolbox---Cooling. Addl Notes: In glass front single door refrigerator at salsa station, three containers of tomato based salsas/ 60*F-75*F stored in covered containers >6 inches deep. Per person in charge, salsas were prepared within the hour. Uncovered containers of salsas were moved to walk in cooler and ice wands were placed in salsas to continue the cooling process. TCS foods are to be cooled in: uncovered/loosely covered, shallow containers less than 4 inches deep, in equipment designed to rapidly cool, by using an ice bath, by using ice as an ingredient, or another effective means. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Comments/Details
No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Reviewed with person in charge and employees: maintaining back door closed during service, handwashing sinks available for use and clean, storage of in use utensils, cleaning inside of all cold holding units, when reheating ensure stiring of product, cold holding.
Ensure all employees working with food obtain food worker certification from ANSI certified online site.
"A" for Food Safety
Through our grading system, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department provides at-a-glance indications of how food establishments perform during food safety inspections. This system is designed to grade food establishments in terms of food safety requirements and provide recognition to those who choose to participate.
How does it work?
The issuance of grade cards to food establishments is based on voluntary participation. The person in charge, who is present during the inspection, will be asked whether they would like to participate in the Grading System. This will be decided prior to each inspection. If an establishment does not participate in the Grading System, Not Participating or NP will appear on the inspection report, and the inspection will still occur. If an establishment does participate, a grade of A, B, C, or D will be determined at the conclusion of the inspection using the Grading System chart below. Participating establishments will then be provided with a grade card that can be posted in the establishment. The status of the establishment’s grade will also appear on the Restaurant Ratings page of the department’s website.
How can I determine the grade?
The Grading System chart can be used to determine grades earned for establishments that do not participate. Grades are determined by the number of Priority and Priority Foundation violations received at the time of inspection. Violation types are defined in general terms below.
Definitions
- Priority Violation
- Major violation that directly contributes to increasing the risk of foodborne illness or injury (e.g. Food employees do not properly wash hands when required).
- Priority Foundation Violation
- Minor violation that does not directly contribute to an increased risk of foodborne illness but failure to correct this violation may lead to the occurrence of a priority violation. For example, hand washing soap and paper towels not available at hand wash sink (may lead directly to food employees not properly washing hands when required).
- Core Violation
- Minor violation that relates to general maintenance and sanitation (e.g. No sign reminding employees to wash hands).
- Cutting Edge Program
- All county food-related establishments can partner with Maricopa County to implement a proactive approach to reducing foodborne illness risk factors by implementing food safety systems that include policies, training, and verification processes. Partners enrolled in the Cutting Edge Program receive an A+ when an A is earned.
| Violation Category | Grade A | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade D | Grade D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | more than 2 | more than 3 |
| Priority Foundation | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | more than 3 | more than 0 |
Any legal action for a pattern of non-compliance or permit suspension results in a D.