My turn to get dissed..sorry long rant

[soso]

Seethe Seethe..... steam streaming from my ears......

OK, so how about this one...

we go for a walk with a pal and she wants to take us to lunch to an 'awesome place'

In we go and as we go to order at the counter I ask the woman about the salad dressings... she mentions the first one which I forget but was obviously sugar laden.. I ask, well does your caesar have any sugar in it.. she looks at me and says loudly in a very smarmy tone.. "I won't give you any information about our secret recipes...." O...K..... well, can you just tell me if you use any kind of added sweetener in it? ...she repeats her chant and actually laughs.... at that point Fred says " She's a diabetic..." I ask well has the Caesar got less sweetener than the house dressing? Unbelievably, she did her chant again! Picture it with a really self righteous laughing posture as if I was trying to trick her...

Man, it took every ounce of my self control (on account of pal) to not rip her a new one right there... I snapped "give me oil and vinegar then! How ridiculous!" and stomped off to the washroom....

After we finished, she had the brass bollocks to come to the table and ask how it was for me!
I told her that when a diabetic asks if there is sugar in something it is not industrial espionage—it is so we can take our insulin correctly (forgot to say I was coming off a low from the walk, which was doubly good of me not to totally lose it) AGAIN, she did this smarmy yak about how people try to break down their recipes (unlikely as Fred got it on the side and it was dis—gust—ing and syrup sweet) I just looked at her and said—well I hope YOU never get diabetes... she still waxed on and had the nerve to say..well there were a lot of things she couldn't have for years..... give me strength! I don't know how I held it in... (not in my nature..lol) I am looking for an email or address as I am SO writing her a letter! I said all of above loudish, but didn't want to yell as pal really likes the place and wants to go back...

As my sis said, what if it were someone with a nut allergy asking if any were present?

There oughta be a law......

[Jill-O]

Oh that would p*ss me off, too.

I'd want to tell her how interesting it is that the restaurant chain has put waitress in charge of protecting their trade secrets. Have no fear -- Waitress Nazi is on the job.

[belyro]

Wow....now that is RUUUUUUDE! I'd be writing a letter to the establishment on the ASAP.

[Schlep]

Sorry devils advocate here, but why would you let a person like this ruin your meal? Some people will laugh or giggle if they are nervous as might have been the case here. If you did not get the answer you wanted then why keep asking, just ask for the manager and I am sure that will solve the problem quickly.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

[gettingby]

People just don't care !!!!
Totally rude of her. I applaud you on your restraint. I probably couldn't have held back.

[soso]

That was the problem, it's not a chain and she was the owner!
I was more than a bit disappointed in the pal.. if it were me and someone spoke to my guest like that I would have weighed in...
It happened at the counter and I can't stress enough how theatrically loud and condescending her behaviour was. There was a line-up behind us and she was turned sort of away from me and as if she were playing to the gallery, she was moving back and forth and laughing incredulously as if she couldn't believe my cheek. My DH is very mellow and even he was outraged. We did find a restaurant review page and wrote a couple of paint-strippers, but don't know if they will publish them..lol....I will copy them to here if they do.. they already had a review that mentioned her IAMGOD mentality as they put it.. so I'm sure it's not just me she p's off...

Would love to threaten lawsuit, but we are in Canada and most businesses are just not afraid of that... The place is called Evedar's Bistro in case anyone wants to go there..lol.lol....

[Schlep]

That was the problem, it's not a chain and she was the owner!
I was more than a bit disappointed in the pal.. if it were me and someone spoke to my guest like that I would have weighed in...
It happened at the counter and I can't stress enough how theatrically loud and condescending her behaviour was. There was a line-up behind us and she was turned sort of away from me and as if she were playing to the gallery, she was moving back and forth and laughing incredulously as if she couldn't believe my cheek. My DH is very mellow and even he was outraged. We did find a restaurant review page and wrote a couple of paint-strippers, but don't know if they will publish them..lol....I will copy them to here if they do.. they already had a review that mentioned her IAMGOD mentality as they put it.. so I'm sure it's not just me she p's off...

Would love to threaten lawsuit, but we are in Canada and most businesses are just not afraid of that... The place is called Evedar's Bistro in case anyone wants to go there..lol.lol....

Okay so much for devils advocate, but you should have turned and walked out unless it is like Friday night here in Ontario and you can't get in a restaurant. The woman was a boor and does not deserve your business.

[notme]

I honestly would have turned around and walked out of the restaurant. I often ask about sugar in spiced tea or other ingredients in foods. We do need to know, but don't need to stay at a place that treats you rudely. If it ever happens again the best way to show your disapproval is to not give them your money or patronage.

[soso]

Believe me.. I would have LOVED to vote with my feet, but the friend was looking on with pleading puppy dog eyes...she was so excited to take us there and lately she has been coming round ours a lot and really wanted to reciprocate.. she was rather sloughened by the experience as it was, that was the only thing that checked my vitriol..although Fred says it was plain I was seething... I felt really sorry for the waitress who delivered the food, she had a look on her face of extreme sympathy, tinged with a bit of fear..mind, I am guessing Madame does not confine her antics to the customers...imagine how she treats her staff!

I ask in every place I eat about additions of sugar—unless it is obvious.. I have never had anyone refuse to say.. sometimes they might not know..then fair enough it's my gamble if I choose to eat it...
In this case it was her pomposity more than the sugar problem, but I always think unhappy people are good at making others unhappy.. Though I still feel vengeful..lol...

[davef]

I can't believe that "b with an itch" was so completely ignorant, as someone else has said, what if you had a nut allergy. Perhaps they should put a sign on the door of the restaurant, akin to what was on maps, beyond here there be monsters

[lisa821]

Yeesh! That would burn me up, too. Why would anyone NOT respect their customers? Does she see herself as some kind of temperamental "Artiste"? What an ego.

The thing is, if you give someone enough rope, they'll hang themselves with it. If she keeps treating her customers like this, I would hope people decide not to eat at her restaurant because the bad attitude just isn't worth it.

[caswellhb]

I am mazed you kept your cool. I'd have ended up in in a cell.
Try bombarding her with articles and pamphlets about diabetes.

Heather.

[w5wjp]

I am mazed you kept your cool. I'd have ended up in in a cell.
Try bombarding her with articles and pamphlets about diabetes.

Heather.

Wow What an idea!!!! Sign her up at every D web site you can find for all sorts of brochures, maybe even a few free meters and sharps containers, etc. I don't get mad but I do get even.....lol

[soso]

Now that IS a great idea!

I can't find an email address for her, but I could go down to the hospital and collect up a big bunch of stuff and mail it to her!

[soso]

Well, got a call back from the BC Human Rights Commission today, who told me Mrs "I've got a Secret Sauce" was in 'clear and direct violation' of Section 8 of the BC Human Rights Act " a duty to accommodate up to the point of undue hardship" meaning if I asked for the recipe for Coca Cola that would be an undue hardship for Coke.... asking if there is added sweetener in her salad dressing is no hardship for her and I have up to 6 months to file a claim against her restaurant if I so wish... !!
He was very clear that she could not do that and his last words to me were ' Don't take any ****!'

Discrimination in accommodation, service and facility
8 (1) A person must not, without a bona fide and reasonable justification,

(a) deny to a person or class of persons any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public, or
(b) discriminate against a person or class of persons regarding any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public
because of the race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation of that person or class of persons.


So I think I will write to her to let her know... the tribunal pages on ongoing diabetes involved claims made for interesting reading anyway... It fair cheered me up to know that I do have some recourse.... should I file a claim?

[Bunkins]

Thats a bunch of BS........ Although I dont think I'd file a claim.. What I'd do is in a few weeks go back in, and ask the same question, if she replies in the same manor, tell her about what you've found, that it's very important that you know, and if she doesnt tell you then you'll be forced to file a claim.. Bring a different friend with you, this way the friend you went with before doesnt get put in a odd situation...

You have more restraint than I do, I have a short temper these days..

[Dewey]

As most of the others said, you do indeed have more restraint than I do. I know that when my BG is low, I have a harder time holding back my feelings (hehe:-).

Like Bunkins said, I don't think I'd file a complaint, but I do think a letter to Ms. "I know the Secret Sauce" is warranted.

I'm sorry to hear this happened to you. People can be cruel & stupid at times. :( A little education to her (in the form of a letter) may go a long way....you never know.

[soso]

I'm going to write the letter, but something in Miss IGASS's attitude makes me believe she will never really get it anyway.. only thing is, are b*****s born or made? I always wonder what goes on in the lives of people who act out so much..... however she needs twatting and I'm not all that restrained!

Believe me, it took everything I had not to jump the counter and pull her lungs out, I am very nasty tempered after a low..in fact sometimes Fred can diagnose one for me on the basis of a snarled answer...lol..

[Isometric]

Maddening! I haven't run in to anyone who's been overtly rude like that - I always get the politely ignorant ones. "Oh - here's our nutrition information - right here on this sign."

"Right," I'll say, "but I was looking for something more than just calories and fat."

As frustrating as this kind of thing is, though - I knew next to nothing about diabetes when I was diagnosed, so I try not to get too worked up when a non-diabetic shows a similar lack of knowledge. What happened to you is another matter entirely, but underneath the blatant arrogance and standoffishness, this lady is just another non-diabetic who doesn't know any better. Maybe she should, but she doesn't.

[caswellhb]

Shame I wasn't with you. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.


Heather.

[lisa821]

I think "twatting" is my new favorite word! It made me do a spit-take with my coffee. :D

Aside from that, can the HRC directly write her and warn her over her actions, or does that come after a complaint is filed? She may not listen to you, but she WOULD listen to them. Otherwise include your email correspondence with the HRC in your letter to her. You have a lot on your side (besides us!), including witnesses to the event.

Hey, if you ever find her email address, LET US KNOW. Mwaahaahaa.
~Lisa

[laurena82]

Hi
I'm new here, and dont live in Canada...but I say "yes"..file a claim!

She didnt need to tell you if "sugar" was an ingredient or not, but could/should be able to tell you how many carbohydrate grams per serving she is giving you. And, since I'm guessing she doesnt have a clue on that...then, IMO, she should be willing to tell you ingredients so you can figure it out.

[caswellhb]

Omg yes! Find her addy and give to us.

Heather.

[soso]

I will.... by hook or by crook....
I got the word 'twatting' from my nephew a few years back..we were playing 'millionaire' and I gave an answer and my sis hesitated and I insisted it was right, so he says—it's alright mum, we'll twat her if she's wrong!
How cute is that—not!
family upheavals today, but planning on writing to Missy IGASS this weekend.. maybe I will hand deliver it....for effect...

[cuddlebug]

Well, got a call back from the BC Human Rights Commission today, who told me Mrs "I've got a Secret Sauce" was in 'clear and direct violation' of Section 8 of the BC Human Rights Act " a duty to accommodate up to the point of undue hardship" meaning if I asked for the recipe for Coca Cola that would be an undue hardship for Coke.... asking if there is added sweetener in her salad dressing is no hardship for her and I have up to 6 months to file a claim against her restaurant if I so wish... !!
He was very clear that she could not do that and his last words to me were ' Don't take any ****!'

Discrimination in accommodation, service and facility
8 (1) A person must not, without a bona fide and reasonable justification,

(a) deny to a person or class of persons any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public, or
(b) discriminate against a person or class of persons regarding any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public
because of the race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation of that person or class of persons.


So I think I will write to her to let her know... the tribunal pages on ongoing diabetes involved claims made for interesting reading anyway... It fair cheered me up to know that I do have some recourse.... should I file a claim?

So im not one to try and start **** but, i would definetally file a claim. Just to make a point if anything. Something like that is sure to hit the local paper and give awareness to the other establishments that its no joke. stop it before it gets worse. ;)

[soso]

I think "twatting" is my new favorite word! It made me do a spit-take with my coffee. :D

Aside from that, can the HRC directly write her and warn her over her actions, or does that come after a complaint is filed? She may not listen to you, but she WOULD listen to them. Otherwise include your email correspondence with the HRC in your letter to her. You have a lot on your side (besides us!), including witnesses to the event.

Hey, if you ever find her email address, LET US KNOW. Mwaahaahaa.
~Lisa

I did ask if they could but they said no—their job was to sue the suckers!

I have written a ripsnorter of a letter to her today and included a print out of a lovely site I found called "the idiots guide to diabetes" so will see what response I get..

[soso]

So im not one to try and start **** but, i would definetally file a claim. Just to make a point if anything. Something like that is sure to hit the local paper and give awareness to the other establishments that its no joke. stop it before it gets worse. ;)

I think if she is apologetic enough, I will ask that they make a donation to a diabetes charity and if not I will file a claim... unfortunately for her I have a good pal who is an arts reporter of a very well known paper here and am sure she can point me to the right journalist..

Today I went to a small cafe and had a great salad with fantastic service from the waitress, who went through all their homemade dressings and got me one without added sugar that was delicious! Later bg tests confirmed it's worth...What a different attitude... thinking of starting a website for reviewing Diabetic friendly restaurants....

[caswellhb]

And write that **** book woman!

Heather.

[soso]

hahahaha...
all projects for my retirement, Heather... I have to be old enough that they don't lock me up for plagerism.....

[Holly]

Filing a claim should make her change her attitude. You may be doing future diabetics a favour.

[soso]

as an update, I have not heard word one from her... I wrote her what I thought was a pretty good letter, telling her how I felt about her behavior (but in a polite way) told her which rule she had breached and that I had six months to file a claim.. registered the letter as well...

So now I think I will...

[Schlep]

People like her think they are above the law and then when she get fined screams that she knew nothing. Good for you sending it registered.