PORT CARBON - After the Gillingham Charter School canceled its school lunch agreement with Tassone's Catering last week, the owner said Monday that he is operable and fixing the violations.
Don C. Tassone, owner of Tassone's Catering and Hideaway Cafe, 318 Washington St., Port Carbon, said that while all of the violations are fixed, it won't be official until the inspector makes a final report.
Tassone has remained open for business throughout the entire process.
"It wasn't as if I got a sticker on my door that I couldn't open up and had to close down," Tassone said. "I was always operable, I just needed to clean and he said the same thing."
An inspection was completed Monday morning with no issues. The final report will be completed after the hardwood floors are sealed.
A Nov. 6 inspection by the state Department of Agriculture inspector and regional director, Daniel Naylor, revealed 15 violations of the regulations governing the handling of food in Pennsylvania, which prompted Gillingham to make its decision to end its contract with Tassone. The school is looking for a new caterer for school lunches.
Naylor would not provide comment.
With the contract from the charter school now canceled, Tassone is moving on and is still planning to hold his Thanksgiving Buffet from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday.
He said however many customers he does get, he is thankful for them.
The buffet, with takeout available, will be $13.95 for adults, $7.95 for children ages 4 to 7 and free for children 3 years old and under, and it includes roast turkey, baked ham, roast beef, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, filling, assorted vegetables, soup, salad bar and desserts.
"I'm already moved forward," Tassone said. "I'm done with what happened last week."
With more free time on his hands, since he no longer has to wake up early to prepare school lunches, Tassone said he will be starting to serve brunch from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays because his customers have requested it.
For more information about Tassone's Catering or to make reservations, call 570-622-6218.