When Governor Greg Abbott allowed restaurants to open again in May, local health inspections started again.
During May and June, Orange County Health Inspector James Scales went to 36 food businesses. Eleven, all day care centers, had perfect scores. He had eight pre-opening inspections with no scores given. The pre-opening inspection included Starbucks Coffee on 16th Street in Orange, which is expected to open in mid-July.
He also reported going to Wal-Mart in West Orange on May 20 because of a complaint the store had no hot water. He closed the inside restrooms, deli, bakery, and produce departments until the water system was fixed. The departments closed at 4:45 p.m. and opened on May 21 at 5:38 p.m.
The lowest score was a 73 to Jingo Cajun Eatery, 425 North Main Street in Vidor. The restaurant had raw chicken at unsafe temperatures and was cooking chicken half way, then letting undercooked chicken sit until an order was placed, and then it was fully cooked. Scales also found “lots of flies throughout” and dead roaches in the back storeroom.
The perfect scores were for Kidz World Learning Center in Bridge City, New Begininz Academy in Orange, Little Flock Daycare in Little Cypress, Little Cypress Learning, Little Pirate Learning in Vidor, Building Blocks Academy in Vidor, Orange County Preschool in Vidor, Brighter Beginnings Childcare in Mauriceville, Panthers Den Preschool in Mauriceville, Early Learning Child Care in Vidor. Bright Beginnings Learning in Vidor, and Bright Horizon Clearning in Vidor.
Scores and demerits are:
Jingo Cajun Eatery, 425 North Main Street in Vidor: 73. Vegetables inside walk-in cooler had mold. Raw chicken was at improper temperature. Half-cooked chicken was sitting in a pan until ordered and then fully cooked. Ice scoop was on top of ice machine. Employee was cutting onions with bare hands. Dates were needed on products inside coolers. Dead roaches were in back storeroom. Flies were throughout business. Employees needed hair restraints. Wiping cloths were on prep table. Foods were stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler and freezer. Outside of equipment needed to be cleaned. Floors and walls needed to be cleaned. Handwashing signs were needed at handwashing stations. Certified food handler certificates and current health inspection were not posted in front. Employee apron was stored on top of box of potatoes.
Texas Country Store, 9508 Highway 12 in Mauriceville. Beef and cut vegetables were not at proper tempertures. Inspector pulled “lots of 2019 expired foods from shelves.” Ice scoop was inside ice machine. Store name and address needed on bags of ice being sold. Front cooler was broken. Lots of flies and gnats were found. Drinks were stored on the floor in the storage room and walk-in coolers. Storage room needed to be cleaned and organized. Restrooms needed to be cleaned and sanitized. Inspector required “lots of cleaning.”
Sammy’s Taqueria, 2122 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 84. Cooked meats were cooling improperly. Raw beef, shelled eggs, and Spanish rice were not proper temperatures. Dates needed on foods inside coolers and freezers. Dish soap stored on top of raw onions. Soap and paper towels were needed at handwashing station. Equipment not use needed to be discarded. No certified food manager certificate found or posted.
The Donut Palace, 190 West Freeway in Vidor: 85. Boudin and sausage at unsafe temperature. No record kept for holding boudin and sausage at room temperature. Dishes were not sanitized in three-compartment sink. Dates needed on products inside coolers. Racks were stored in front of handwashing station. Same pan liner was used multiple times. Floors and walls needed to be cleaned of old foods. Roof had leak spots in several places. Inspector required immediate repairs.
KFC, 2207 MacArthur Drive in West Orange: 87. Coleslaw was not at safe temperature (manager discarded). No food handler certificates were on premises. Reach-in and walk-in freezer motors had ice buildup. The air conditioner was out and mold was growing on air vents. Chicken was defrosting on the prep table. Floors, walls, and equipment needed to be cleaned. Boxes were on ground near dumpster with old grease running into the storm drain.
Brewitas, 2875 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 89. Inspector recommended more handwashing because employees were using personal cell phones and not properly washing hands before preparing food. Paper towels were needed at the handwashing station. Dirty mop was stored inside the three-compartment sink used to wash dishes. Restraints were needed for store paper goods on the floor. Storage shelves and equipment needed to be cleaned. Current health report and certified food manager certificates not posted in front.
America donuts, 2105 Texas Avenue: 90. Sausage and boudin were not a safe temperatures. No record was kept on time sausage and boudin were at room temperature. Ice scoop was on top of ice inside machine. Same pan liner was used multiple times.
Bayou Cafe, 995 North Main Street in Vidor: 91. Cooked shrimp were not at safe temperatures. Dates were needed on products inside coolers and freezers. Handwashing station was broken with plumbing taken apart. Inspector ordered immediate repairs. Wiping cloths were stored on cutting boards and not in bucket of sanitizer. Current food service permit, certified food manager certificates, and current health inspection report not posted in front.
Fat Boys BBQ, 2227 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 93. Employee was using bare hand contact with prepared foods. Paper towels needed at the handwashing station. Hair restraints needed. Stored items needed to be six inches off the floor.
Hamburger Depot, 2395 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 95. Pipes under the three-compartment sink had steady drip at bottom with water standing on floor. Inspector ordered immediate repair. Hair restraints were needed. Fish was defrosting in bucket of water inside prep sink. Back door needed to be resealed.
Exxpress Mart, 20871 Highway 62 South in Orange: 95. Inspector pulled several expired foods from shelves. Drinks were stored on the floor inside the walk-in cooler. Current food service permit, certified food manager certificate, and current health inspection report not posted on front.
Lighthouse Academy, 19400 Highway 62 in Orange: 96. Chemicals were stored above cooler. Vents at the Vent-a-Hood needed to be cleaned of mold.
Taco Bell, 7245 Interstate 10 East in Orange:97. Front cooling unit and walk-in freezer had ice build-up. Vents at Vent-a-Hood and air vent above prep line needed to be cleaned.
Peggy’s Place, 2682 East Roundbunch Road in Orange: 98. Outside of equipment, storage shelves, and floors around fryers needed to be cleaned.
Orange Community Action (Meals on Wheels), 103 Fifth Street in Orange: 99. Several gnats were at a broken dishwasher.
Loving Start Daycare, 2335 Highway 12 in Vidor: 99. Boxes of food were stored on floor.
Write the Vision Learning, 3300 Western Avenue in West Orange: 99. Several dead roaches were under dish sink.
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