Two restaurants and a convenience store selling food scored below 80 in July. Orange County Health Inspector James Scales went to 35 food businesses during the month and only two had perfect scores.
The Star Stop convenience store on Highway 12 in Mauriceville had a 68, the lowest score in the past months. Two Pinehurst seafood restaurants had the next lowest scores. Kotoyoma had a 76 and JJ Wings and Seafood had a 72.
The perfect scores went to Caryn’s Bakery on West Roundbunch Road in Bridge City, and Panthers Den Preschool in Mauriceville.
Star Stop No. 12, 11384 Highway 12 in Mauriceville had a 68 with the inspector finding 19 violations. The demerits were cut onions, shelled eggs, Spanish rice, and pork were not at safe temperatures. The inspector pulled several expired foods from the shelves. Foods were improperly stored inside the reach-in coolers and freezers. Also, bags of rice and beans were left open on storage shelves, faucet at three-compartment sink was leaking, several employees did not have food handler certificates, men’s room did not have hot water, store name and address were needed on bags of ice being sold, dates were needed on products inside the coolers and freezers, hand-washing station did not have paper towels, flies were found throughout store, child was playing behind the counter, drinks were stored on the floor, Vent-a-Hood and equipment needed to be cleaned of old grease and foods, employee restroom did not have paper towers, ceiling tiles were damaged, certified food manager certificate was not posted.
JJ Wings and Seafood, 2246 MacArthur Drive in Pinehurst, had a 72 with the inspector citing raw fish and raw chicken not at safe temperatures. In addition, containers of sauce were opened and sitting on storage shelves instead of in the refrigerator. Raw fish was stored in water, an employee was using a cell phone and did not wash hands, pipes under the three-compartment sink were leaking, dates were needed on products inside coolers and freezers, hand-washing station needed paper towels, dishes were in the hand-washing station, sticky fly tapes were hanging from the ceiling throughout the restaurant, employee drinks and cell phones were not stored properly, wiping cloths were on the prep table, foods were stored on the floor of the walk-in coolers and freezers, raw fish was defrosting in water in the three-compartment sink, Vent-a-Hood, storage shelves and equipment needed to be cleaned of “heavy grease” build-up, floors, walls and ceilings throughout needed to be cleaned, no food handler certificates.
Kotoyama, 2226 MacArthur Drive in Pinehurst, had a 76 with the inspector citing raw shrimp was not at proper temperatures. Also, foods inside the coolers needed to be covered, mold was inside the ice machine, the ice scoppe was inside a container of lids, the hand-washing station did not have water, the walk-in freezer door was not closing because of an ice build-up, dates were needed on products inside the coolers and freezers, hand-washing station needed paper towels, employee drinks and cell phones were not stored properly, wiping cloths were stored on the prep table, shrimp were defrosting in the three-compartment sink, Vent-a-Hood, storage racks and equipment needed to be cleaned of old grease on foods; floors, walls and ceiling needed to be cleaned of old foods and grease; hand-washing signs needed to be posted, current health report was not posted.
Other scores and demerits for the month are:
Dickey’s Barbecue, 2323 Lutcher Drive in Orange: 92. Employee restroom did not have paper towels, water was dripping from ceiling tiles, hair restraints were needed, storage shelves needed to be cleaned, floors and walls needed to be cleaned, employee restroom needed to be cleaned.
Robert’s Meat Market, 3720 Park Avenue in Pinehurst: 93. Raw meat was stored on top of package of cheese inside the walk-in cooler, dates were needed on products inside the coolers, storage shelves and walls inside the walk-in cooler needed to be cleaned, ceiling tiles were damaged.
Triangle Food Mart, 3900 North 16th Street in Orange: 96. Employee restroom did not have hot water. Drinks were stored on the floor inside the walk-in cooler. Current food service permit and health inspection needed to be posted.
Freeway Express, 115 East Freeway in Vidor: 93. Dates were needed on sandwiches inside coolers, broken tiles on the counter, drinks were storend on the floor, floors inside walk-in cooler needed to be cleaned of trash, paper towels needed inside employee restroom, current food service permit and health inspection needed to be posted.
Family Dollar, 11701 Highway 62 North in Mauriceville: 95. Thermometers were needed inside coolers and freezers, toilet paper dispensers were broken or missing, current health inspection not posted.
Pizza Hut, 535 North Main Street in Vidor: 90. Inspector cited restaurant for needed “lots of clean-up needed” and reported it was “very dirty.” He found dishes that had been cleaned still dirty and greasy, hose at the mop sink was dripping, flies were throughout, Vent-a-Hood along with equipment and storage shelves needed to be cleaned, fryers and area around fryers needed to be cleaned of old greas, floors and walls needed to be cleaned of old foods and greast, bottom of back door needed to be sealed.
Elements Cafe and Baker, 1055 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 92. Chicken was stored on the top shelf inside reach-in cooler. Dates were needed on all products. Inspector found gnats throughout store. Storage shelves, equipment and floors throughout needed cleaning.
Kidz World Learning Center, 1875 Miller Drive in Bridge City: 98. Center did not have a certified food manager on the staff.
Tropicana Ice Cream Parlor, 2637 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 94. Water was dripping from pipes under the hand-washing station. Children were behind the counter and should stay in the dining room. Current health inspection was not posted in front. Bottom of back door needed to be re-sealed.
Dairy Queen, 321 Strickland Drive in Orange: 91. Slime was found inside the ice machine. Drive-through window did not close completely. Three-compartment sink was missing grout. Employee had improper jewelry. Storage shelves, Vent-a-Hood and ceiling tiles inside kitchen needed to be cleaned of old foods and grease. Current food service permit and current health inspection were not posted in front.
Delta Food Mart, 705 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 93. Dates were needed on sandwiches and other products inside the cooler. Soap and paper towels were needed inside the employee restroom. Gasket on reach-in freezer needed to be repaired. Ceiling tiles throughout had mold.
El Autentico Taco, 2215 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 85. Onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and shelled eggs were not at proper temperatures. Three boxes of shelled eggs were sitting at room temperature. Dishes were not sanitized, Dates were needed on all products inside the cooer and freezer. Lots of dishes were stored inside the hand-washing station. Meats were defrosting improperly inside the three-compartment sink. Current health inspection and certified food manager certificates were not posted in front.
Brookshire Brothers, 1380 North Main Street in Vidor: 94. Inspector pulled several expired foods from shelves. Water was dripping from the ceiling inside the meat department. Floors inside milk cooler needed to be cleaned.
Brookshire Brothers Deli, 1380 North Main Street in Vidor: 92. Fried chicken was stored improperly inside the walk-in cooler. Foods inside waolk-in cooler needed to be covered. Water was coming from the base of the hand-washing station. Storage equipment, shelves, and floors throughout needed to be cleaned of old foods.
Suprer Stop, 2745 Evangeline in Vidor: 95. Store was opened before food service permit was obtained. Drinks were stored on the floor. Light shields were needed throughout the store. Lots of trash and debris were in the back of the property. Construction needed to be completed.
Marekt Basket, 800 North Main Street in Vidor: 91. Inspector found several expired foods on shelves. Meat department did not have hot water. Employee restroom needed paper towels. Boxes of food were stored on the floor inside the walk-in freezers. Walk-in dairy cooler and back storage area needed to be cleaned of old foods and trash.
Market Basket Deli, 800 North Main Street in Vidor: 93. Dates were needed on products. Floor tiles were damaged. A section of wall was missing. Sanitize bucket was stored on top of prep table. Storage shelves, equipment, and floors throughout needed to be cleaned of old foods and grease.
Donut Hole, 6309 West Roundbunch Road in Orangefield: 88. Sausage and eggs were not at proper temperatures. Dates were needed on all products inside coolers and freezers. Fly traps were improperly used above food products. Employee food and drinks were improperly stored inside coolers. Shop was using same pan line multiple times to bake kolaches. Vent-a-Hood, inside of cappuccino machine, floors, and light fixtures throughout needed to be cleaned of old foods and dirt.
Subway, 3736 North 16th Street in Orange: 98. Employees were wearing improper jewelry. Hand-washing signs needed at all hand-washing stations.
Tacos El Chontes, 603 Strickland Drive in Orange: 95. Cut onions were not at proper temperatures. Reach-in cooler was not a proper temperature.
Hone Wheat Bakery and Cafe, 10383 Highway 12 in Mauriceville: 93. Hot water was at 104 degrees instead of 118 degrees. Dishing were inside the hand-washing station. Spider webs were in corners of walls. Equipment neded to be cleaned of old foods. Floors throughout needed to be cleaned.
Burger Town, 6223 West Roundbunch Road in Orangefield: 95. Reach-in coolers were holding water on the bottom shelf. Gasket o reach-in cooler was damaged and held by tape. Flighes found throughout. Fryers, storage shelves, floors and walls throughout needed to be cleaned of old foods and grease.
Bobcat Chevron, 6312 FM 1442 in Orangefield: 81. Vegetables were stored next to raw meat inside walk-in cooler. Products needed to be covered and dated. Ice scoop was stored on top of prep table. Employee was using cell phone while cooking and did not change gloves. Store did not have certified food manager and did not obtain food service permit. Employee drinks were stored improperly. Back storage room needed to be cleaned and organized. Back door needed to be re-sealed. Temporary food service permit and hand-washing signs were not posted.
Apple Tree Child Enrichment, 9983 FM 105 in Orangefield. No score for pre-opening of second building. Site will now have two kitchens.
Tacos El Primo, 7409 Interstate 10 in Orange: 95. Beef and chicker were not at proper temperatures. Food products inside coolers and freezer needed to be dated and covered. Lots of water dripping from the walk-in cooler. Ceiling needed to be repaired. Food was stored on floor. Vent-a-Hood, storage shelves, equipment, floors, and walls needed to be cleaned of old foods. Bags of trash were sitting on the ground next to the dumpster instead of disposed properly. Broken and unused equipment needed to be disposed. Certified food manager certificate and hand-washing signs were not posted.
Walgreen’s, 1408 16th Street in Orange: 99. Shelves inside milk cooler needed to be cleaned.
Shipley Donuts, 2913 MacArthur Drive in West Orange: 92. Potting soil was stored next to food products inside the back storage area. Employee drinks were improperly stored. Same pan liners were used multiple times to bake kolaches. Vent-a-Hood had grease build-up. Floors needed to be cleaned of old foods and trash. Back storage area needed to be cleaned of old foods and trash. Hand-washing signs were needed at hand-washing stations.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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