LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — When we first visited M & M Soul Food' s Las Vegas Boulevard location this summer, owner Tim Gilmore invoked a higher power when asked about his restaurant's problems with the Health District.
"The good Lord is doing what he's doing."
He also described financial hardship and negligent employees.
"Forgetting their little basic 101stuff so it caused -- it was a bigger problem for me as the owner. But, like I say, we're ready to rock and roll again. I'm excited about being open and getting back to what I do."
But M & M hasn't gotten back in the groove.
It was shut down again Sept. 17, making it a five-time repeat offender. Three of them in the past 90 days alone at the location on Las Vegas Boulevard near Sahara Avenue.
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The latest closure was due to failed re-inspection from the 36-demerit C grade they got on Aug. 22.
To pass re-inspection, a restaurant can get no more than 10 demerits. M & M got 33 with seven repeat violations including improper handwashing, dirty kitchenware in clean storage, exposed insulation in the freezer and 11 bags of cut collard greens at unsafe temperatures.
A food handler touched a trash can with gloved hands, then touched ready-to-eat bread with soiled gloves.
There was mold in the ice machine, live and dead insects on bulk flour and elsewhere in the kitchen and inspectors say required cooling logs "appeared to be falsified."
M & M did not have its C grade card posted and there was no certified food protection manager on site.
Now, the man who once welcomed us in is ordering us to stay out.
We wanted him to have his say, so we called him, letting him know we were on a recorded line.
"M & M Soul Food has come up once again with the highest number of demerits," Darcy Spears said. "I just wanted to reach out and find out if there was a way to talk about what you're going through with the Health District."
"Well, first of all, that's actually old," Gilmore said.
He's calling the Sept. 17 inspection old because M & M got its A grade back with zero demerits on Sept. 19.
He continued, saying, "Outside of everything else, all of the challenges we have and the loss of business due to the fact that we've been on your show so many times and what have you, it is what it is."
Due to a history of non-compliance, M & M Soul Food Cafe has been placed in the Health District's administrative process.
The Health District describes its administrative process as:
"Environmental Health staff spend considerable time in facilities when a downgrade occurs, to educate staff and problem solve. This includes reviewing a facility’s procedures to identify how methods can be changed or implemented, demonstrating how to do tasks correctly, and providing ongoing education. Unfortunately, some facilities are unable to gain compliance and continue to exhibit a pattern of out of control risk factors for foodborne illness. If this pattern continues we implement a progressive process designed to further the facility’s education, as well as include increased regulatory requirements."
Because we've reported on that, Gilmore said, "I'm being harassed. So I have nothing else to say."
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The main dishroom at Paris Hotel Casino on Las Vegas Boulevard near Flamingo Road has also been placed in the administrative process due to repeat non-compliance with the health code.
It was shut down Sept. 17 for a multi-generational cockroach infestation.
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Other dishrooms at Paris have also been shut down for roaches, making the hotel casino a Dirty Dining repeat offender.
The main dishroom was back to a zero-demerit A grade on Sept. 24.
We did not receive a response to our request for comment.
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Taqueria El Buen Pastor is also a multiple Dirty Dining repeat offender at multiple locations.
Their food truck on East Bonanza and Las Vegas Boulevard was shut down Sept. 18 for an imminent health hazard related to its ventilation system.
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There was also a large tray of cooked asada still in use even though it was a week old.
Taqueria El Buen Pastor was back to a zero-demerit A grade on Sept. 19.
No one responded to our request for comment.
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Tejuinos Don Raul, a food truck on East Lake Mead Boulevard between Nellis and Christy, was shut down Sept. 19 for two imminent health hazards: no water and inadequate refrigeration.
Inspectors also found multiple flies in the food prep area.
When reached on the phone, the owner had no comment on the closure.
The Health District says Tejuinos Don Raul hasn't scheduled re-inspection yet so it's still closed.
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Click here to see the health report for M & M Soul Food.
Click here to see the health report for Paris Hotel Main Dishroom.
Click here to see the health report for Taqueria El Buen Pastor.
Click here to see the health report for Tejuinos Don Raul.
