A new food handler training program goes into effect for all California restaurant workers Friday, and Sacramento-area employees and restaurateurs have varied opinions on its effectiveness. The new law, Senate Bill 602, requires all restaurant employees – with a few exceptions – who handle food to complete an online training course with basic food safety instruction.  According to the law, certified testing companies cannot charge more than $15, paid by the employee. “There are similar laws and requirements like this in other states that require a basic level of food safety training, like Florida and Texas,” said Daniel Conway, legislative and public affairs director of the California Re

The new retail/restaurant concept, Hot Italian, on the corner of Q and 16th Streets, is embracing green ideology in its entirety, completely renovating an old, vacated retail space with a sleek new design that Mother Nature would be proud of. Andrea Lepore, co-owner of Hot Italian, had the environment in the front of her mind when she first had the idea for Hot Italian. The reason is simple. "I think the environment is important to everyone,” she says. “Especially when you're in a space where you're eating, drinking, and relaxing. We wanted to create a restaurant that offered healthy food, but was also healthy to be in." Lepore decided to pursue a Leaders in Energy and Environmental Desi