By Peter A. Sutters Jr.
Winchesters, a neighborhood tavern at 233-12 Hillside Ave. in Bellerose and Dunkin' Donuts/ Baskin Robbins at 153-67 Horace Harding Expressway in Flushing were awarded the Golden Apple award recently from the New York City Health Department for food safety and cleanliness.”It's been the talk of the town,” said Winchesters co-owner John Hughes. Hughes said that after he heard about the program he decided to enroll in a food safety class that is required to win the award, which was only given out to nine restaurants in the entire city.”We qualified, so we said why not,” said Hughes. “I was expecting a lot more restaurants to be there, but when they said only nine, I was like 'whoa'.” To qualify, a restaurant must pass two health inspections without receiving more than eight points for minor infractions and no major infractions. After passing the two inspections with flying colors, the establishment is required to send an employee to take the three-day food safety class and have another walk through with members of the Health Department.”They tell you what you're doing good and what you should improve,” said Hughes.At the Dunkin' Donuts the feeling was much the same.”In the three years I have been here I've raised the standards,” said Pamela Danbusky, manager of the Dunkin' Donuts, which her father has owned for 26 years. “I had a vision and a goal in mind of what the store should be like.”Danbusky said it was not difficult to get the staff on board with her new standards.”We eat here, too,” she said. “There is a very positive feeling in the store, we're a team.”She said the measures taken to get the store where she wanted were simple and did not require all that much extra work.”(The Health Department) wants you to monitor the temperature of the food from when it gets delivered to when it goes into storage,” said Danbusky. She also said at the class she was taught how to properly clean cutting boards and test the kitchen for bacteria. “It really doesn't entail all that much,” she said. “But everyone has to be involved.”Danbusky said it was nice to see all her extra work pay off with the award and to receive accolades from her father. “He is so proud it's our store that got recognized,” said Danbusky. “It has been very nice to be recognized for something positive.”Reach reporter Peter A. Sutters Jr. by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext. 173.
