Josh Henderson, co-owner of mobile eatery Skillet, which serves breakfast and lunch from an Airstream trailer at locations throughout Seattle, pledged Tuesday to continue to operate his "private tasting club" while he seeks the proper permits from Public Health Seattle & King County. Last Wednesday, the health department cited Skillet, which it defines as a restaurant, for numerous health code violations.

Since it opened last month, Skillet's owners have referred to it as a private club, doling out "membership cards" to all paying customers. But Hillary Karasz of Public Health's communications department said Monday that despite Skillet's distribution of cards to "members," the outfit does not qualify as a private club, and it never sought the permits required of the more than 10,000 dining establishments in King County.

When inspectors arrived last week, she said, they discovered that there was no running water for the trailer's hand sink. Karasz questioned where the chefs had been washing their hands and sanitizing cookwear, and she said conditions at Skillet posed "a high-level risk of food-borne illness."

But according to Henderson, the Airstream is equipped with a four-compartment sink fed by a hot-water tank, which -- in an unfortunate turn of events -- ran out just before health department inspectors arrived. Henderson said he is now working with the health department to obtain the necessary permits, and he has the department's blessing to continue operating in the meantime.

Skillet is tied up with private events this week, but we plan to catch up with them next week when they return with their delectable dishes to a South Lake Union parking lot. And at Henderson's invitation, we'll be scoping out the sink. Call us wimps, but when it comes to food safety, we err on the side of caution.

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