Living With Ignorant Restaurant Managers

This is what finally pushed me into the blogosphere:

Yesterday, I met my mom, sister and niece for lunch at my niece's favorite place - Chuck E. Cheese's. People who know me know that I, of course, took in my own food to dine alongside them instead of partaking of any food Chuck E. Cheese's provided. For about a year and 3 months, I have been on a strict diet due to my food intolerances and sensitivities and I cook ALL of my meals. For that length of time I have also been taking my own food into restaurants from Memphis to the East Coast. I have never had an issue eating my own food in restaurants, until now.

Let me start by saying that I make it a point to meet my party at Chuck E. Cheese's, and do not enter with the child, so that I don't have to be subjected to the hand-stamping they do to protect the children. So when I entered, the Door Girl asked if I was meeting someone and I said I was. This is exactly how this scenario played out 4 days prior when I went to meet my nephew there for lunch.

Yesterday, I had barely started eating when Door Girl came to our table and said she didn't realize I was bringing in my own food and she was sorry, but I had to leave. What?! I said, "I take my own food into restaurants in Johnson City EVERY DAY." To which she could only respond with further mumblings and that was what her manager had told her and we could speak to the manager if we liked.

I was about to refuse when my mom said, "YES, we would like to speak to the manager. Send him over." When he arrived, Mom explained to him that I had a very strict diet because of my allergies and had to bring in my own food. The manager said blah, blah, blah, it was a health code violation. My mom asked how this was different from baby food, and he said food in its original container is acceptable. My sister picked up that hint and asked if they had recently been cited for a health code violation, and he said they had. My sister quit eating/drinking right away. Click here for their most recent posted inspection: http://tn.state.gegov.com/tennessee/search.cfm?i=1150199. None of the items mention outside food.

I had heard enough and gathered my things and left. My mom continued to, uh, converse with him. She said he said things like "I understand" and she quickly let him know that, no, he couldn't possibly understand what it's like. He told Mom that it was a corporate thing and she could complain via their web site. When she assured him she knew exactly where and how, he switched back to it being a health code violation. More blah, blah, blah.

Lunch was ruined. I was in the car crying. My sister quit eating. My niece had to hurry and use her tokens so they could get out of there.

I love my mom. She later called the Washington County Health Department and learned that IT IS NOT A HEALTH CODE VIOLATION TO BRING IN OUTSIDE FOOD TO A RESTAURANT. The inspector even said moms bring McDonald's into restaurants for kids to eat all the time.

Well, well, well. Apparently, the manager at the Johnson City Chuck E. Cheese's is ignorant of what is and isn't a health code violation. Too bad his ignorance ruined our lunch and my afternoon.