TIFT, Ga. (WALB) — Fast Stop in Cordele got an 80 on its food service inspection on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

They received two infractions; both were corrected while inspectors were on site, and one was a repeat violation.

Below is a summary of the infractions:

1. Violation of Code: [511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)] Observed raw animal food (chicken parts) stored over ready-to-eat food(frozen strawberries) in the RIC in the main kitchen. Corrected On-Site. New Violation.
2. Violation of Code: [511-6-1.04(6)(f)] Observed potentially hazardous food not held at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above.  Corrected On-Site. Repeat Violation.

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For Chicago Pizza and Pasta owner Vincent Funk, earning a perfect 100 on a recent food service inspection is the result of consistent preparation—not a last-minute effort to impress an inspector.

“A 100 food score is very important in this universe,” Funk said. “It takes a lot of work to get 100.”

Funk said the restaurant’s staff follows regular food safety procedures every day, particularly when it comes to properly cooking and cooling food.

“If you don’t have a good, consistent process for cooling foods properly or heating foods properly, then it shows,” he said. “The thermometer does not lie.”

Health inspections are unannounced, Funk said, which makes it important for restaurants to maintain their standards year-round rather than scrambling to prepare after learning an inspector is coming.

The restaurant has been part of Funk’s family since 1974. He purchased the business from his father in 2006, and said Chicago Pizza and Pasta is now busier than ever.

Funk said his family’s attitude toward health inspections has evolved over the years. His father once viewed inspectors as outsiders interfering with the business, but Funk said that perspective changed with time.

“Once we got past that mental block of how to appropriately view the health inspection process, it changed everything,” Funk said.

Today, Funk said he welcomes the health inspector’s guidance and will call with questions about food items, building concerns, or safe handling practices.

“I learned through this process that the health inspection process is not meant to penalize businesses—it’s meant to keep the people safe,” he said.

Chicago Pizza and Pasta also features family-inspired menu items, including its popular pizza rolls. The restaurant fills pizza dough with customers’ choice of toppings, brushes it with garlic butter, bakes it, and serves it with sauce on the side.

Funk also highlighted the restaurant’s roast beef sandwich, which is based on his mother’s Sunday recipe. The roast beef is sliced and served with homemade gravy on Italian garlic bread.

“Before the pizza roll was invented, that roast beef kept my family fed,” Funk said.

Funk said the restaurant’s perfect score reflects the team’s commitment to food safety and the community it serves.

Below is a list of the top 10 scoring restaurants that were inspected from Oct. 19 through Oct. 27 in South Georgia:

Below is a list of the 5 lowest-scoring restaurants that were inspected from Oct. 19 through Oct. 27 in South Georgia:

MORE RESTAURANT REPORT:

>>PREVIOUS REPORT: Restaurant Report: Breakfast spot in Albany gets 83, Pizza spot in Valdosta gets 100<<

Below, you can find the food service inspection document for the lowest-scoring restaurants covered in this week’s report:

Fast Stop

Dragon Buffet

Merry Acres Pub House

Imperial Wings & Burgers

Tee Time Par & Grill

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