Health dept. names 2025 Gold Plate winners

NORWALK — Huron County Public Health has named 18 local food service operations as winners of the 2025 Gold Plate Awards, recognizing businesses and institutions that maintained strong food safety practices during inspections. The awards are presented annually to food establishments that meet high inspection standards set by the state. "The Gold Plate Award is an acknowledgment given to food service establishments that maintain excellent food safety practices," a release from the county health department states. The health department's environmental health staff routinely inspect restaurants, schools and other food facilities across the county to ensure compliance with state food safety rules, the release states. The Gold Plate Award program is optional, and establishments must apply annually to be considered. To qualify, facilities must earn at least a 90 percent score. Scores are based on the number of violations documented during two inspections within the year. "Scores are tallied based on how many critical and non-critical violations were observed between two annual inspections of the facility," the department said. The 2025 award recipients are: Bellevue • First Church Childcare and Pre-School • Fraternal Order of Eagles 490 • Mickey Mart #24 Collins • Western Reserve High School Greenwich • East of Chicago • South Central Local Schools • Mickey Mart #15 New London • Gas Depot/Subway • New London Local Schools • New London Wildcat Café Norwalk • Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) • Mickey Mart #55 • Sheri's Coffee House • Taco Bell • Vargo's Drive-In Willard • Domino's Pizza • Dunkin Donuts #364425 • Mickey Mart #59 Inspection reports for licensed food establishments in Huron County are available through the health department's online inspection system.