BEAUMONT, Texas — Even though Beaumont city officials adjusted their rules to make it easier for out of town restaurants to be at the Taste of the Triangle, four out of five that pulled out still won't be participating this year.
Nederland restaurant, Judice's 1927, Bullfish, in Orange, Port Arthur's Texas Roadhouse and the culinary program at Lamar State College Port Arthur all confirmed to 12News on Wednesday that they would still not be attending the Fat Tuesday event.
This comes a day after the Beaumont city officials announced an adjustment of the rules that would make it easier on for restaurants to attend.
RELATED: Beaumont city leaders make it easier for out of town vendors to participate in Taste of the Triangle
If the changes had come a lot sooner, Judice's 1927 would have been able to go, owner Al Judice told 12News. Faced with the changes Judice says he had already pivoted and committed to catering a Fat Tuesday party for one of his customers.
Judice said he still loves the event and wishes he could be there.
The crew at Texas Roadhouse in Port Arthur will still not be going either according to manager, Mike Griffin, who tells 12News that he wishes they could.
After learning of the new rules they had gone ahead and shifted their focus to prepping for Valentine's Day which comes the very next day and is a big day for them. They just didn't have the time to go back to planning for the Taste of the Triangle, he said.
"Taste of the Triangle is a great event and we hope to participate next year," Griffin added.
Culinary students at Lamar State College Port Arthur will not be attending either, a spokesperson for the school said,
An employee at Bullfish, in Orange, also told 12News that they would still not be attending.
12News has reached out to Mama Kim's in Nederland about their plans but has not heard back yet.
Previously 12News reported that out of town vendors were pulling out of the fundraiser because of a new city ordinance that required them to prepare their food in Beaumont.
The annual fundraiser hosted by the Sabine Area Restaurant Association helps raise scholarship money for area culinary students.
Councilman Mike Getz posted on his Facebook that he and Councilman AJ Turner, Councilman Taylor Neild met with Beaumont Health Director Kenneth Coleman, City Manager Kenneth Williams, Beaumont City Attorney, restaurant industry representatives and promoters of Taste of the Triangle.
The Beaumont Health Department approved conditions where they will issue a special events permits variance from health code ordinances for special events like Taste of the Triangle.
"The goal of the Health Department is NOT to make it more difficult for out of town vendors, rather, it is to make sure that food that is being brought into Beaumont and served in Beaumont is being kept at proper temperatures and is being prepared safely," Getz said.
Every food vendor is required by State law to have a commissary where their food is prepared, according to Getz.
One of the main issues out of town vendors had a problem with was the requirement that the commissary be located in Beaumont. This new variance will allow out of town vendors to use their own commissary, even if it is not in Beaumont, Getz said on Facebook.
There is no requirement that food has to be purchased in Beaumont.
The vendors will have to follow the six rules listed at the top of the page pictured below to participate.
- Has to be a brick & mortar. Must be a restaurant and not a food truck.
- Provide most recent inspection report within 6 months to a year of the event, 30 days prior to the event>
- Grade 90 or above.
- Provide a transportation plan for the food.
- No demerits in temperature, food & refrigeration, not having a certified food manager, sick employee, not having food handlers certificate, proper hand washing.
- Provide a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Plan. A system which provides the framework for monitoring the total food system, from harvesting to consumption, to reduce the risk of food borne illness. The system is designed to identify and control potential problems before they start.
