Happiness reopens; assures public of food

The Bureau of Environmental Health gives the Happiness Chinese Restaurant in Garapan a Grade “A.” (JON PEREZ)

A Garapan restaurant that figured in a video that went viral has reopened after being cleared to do so by the Bureau of Environmental Health and the fire department, following inspections made at the establishment.

The operation of the Happiness Chinese Restaurant stopped for almost three weeks after a video showing one of their staff allegedly butchering a cat for human consumption surfaced and went viral on social media.

That, however, was not Happiness’ violation. BEH suspended the restaurant due to unsanitary conditions that included roach infestation, unclean kitchen area, and the meat storage having poor temperature control.

Restaurant general manager Thomas Chong said the bureau had already cleared them and they had been issued the necessary permits to resume operations.

“The clearance and other necessary permits were given to us on May 30 after we have received compliance from the Sanitary Division. We already had the sanitary permit and BEH gave us Grade A [rating] after complying with environmental health and sanitation standards,” Chong said.

He said that, as soon as they were shut down by BEH, their company paid the $4,000 fine the following day and worked to correct all their mistakes in order to comply with all safety and health regulations under CNMI law.

In a separate statement, Happiness said it has been in business in the CNMI since 1994 and that “they deeply respect, appreciate, and value the entire community.” The action of one of its cooks was an isolated case, the restaurant assured.

“The unfortunate event published in the local papers [was] for personal consumption of our former cook is understandably upsetting. [The cook] has since left the CNMI on his own initiative and [he was] very regretful of his actions,” added the statement.

Chong said the cook was staying at the next floor of the restaurant’s building and what happened occurred after their operating hours. “The thing that one person did was not done inside the restaurant.”

“It was done, you see where the gate is, at the backside. There’s a door going in the restaurant. So, when they took the video and photo, it was directly. The guy was staying upstairs and it was after working hours.”

No other meat

He added that since the restaurant opened in 1994, they only serve food that’s are only allowed in the CNMI. “We just want to inform people that all of [the violations] have been corrected. What happened, had already happened.”

“There was no cat meat inside the restaurant and we want to assure that to the public. He [cook] was outside and was an isolated incident,” said Chong, who also mentioned that they are also offering a 20-percent discount from June 5 to 11 to entice their customers back.

The restaurant’s corporate entity, American K&W, in a separate statement, said they assure the CNMI public that they only serve food that’s accepted in the CNMI. “We want to assure the CNMI community and our valued customers that for the past 24 years that we have operated our restaurant, we have and will never serve anything that is not acceptable nor allowable in the CNMI.”

“It is not in our business practice to allow any of this in our restaurant and the incident as published in the local papers took place after the restaurant hours and outside our restaurant customer dining area.”

They added: “As a result of this and to bring comfort to the CNMI community, the CNMI Sanitation Division mentioned in the earlier article that there was no meat found in our restaurant of the slaughtered animal. We have also fully complied and corrected all the sanitation findings.”

They are currently offering discounts on selected food items starting today up to June 11, Monday. “We deeply value our local customers. Our restaurant wants to offer to our local customers a 40-percent discount on selected seafood dishes only, U.S. king crab and Korea scallops.”

“Other menu dishes will be offered at 20-percent off the menu price to our local customers as well. This offer is available for a week, June 5 to 11. Reservations is required, please call 233-9468.”