Hi,

I have just had the most dramatic evening in a long while.

My Mam kindly offered to take myself, Marie and the two little boys out for dinner as the older boys went to watch Newcastle Utd V Coventry live tonight.

We met about 8 miles away and had this lovely meal.

As Patrick (my little 5year old) was eating his choc cheesecake, he suddenly said 'LOOK Mammy, there is a nail in my cake!'. I looked and I initially thought it was a clove but then looked closer and there was a two inch nail all covered in chocolate! (He had bitten on it and found it was too hard to chew and seen it was a nail!)

I was SO shaken, i took it from him and went to show the waitress. They were all horrified and I went back to my seat as they went to investigate. Poor Patrick was crying (his dessert had gone) and they didn't come over for ages!

In the end the manageress came over and said how terribly sorry she was, that they'd had a brand new mixer and a nail from the mixer had come off into the cheesecake mix! She then asked me what I wanted to do, ie not pay for his meal or at all? I said I'd think it over but I went and rang my brother and asked his advice?

He said to go straight back in, refuse to pay and take their name and leave. My Mam did this as I got the children into the car.

I feel so shaken. I know they will be feeling the same but all I can think of is my child could have died.

Dreading Mark coming home (they are still in the car) but I know he'll think I did the right thing.

Much Love,
Amanda

What an awful thing to happen, Amanda. But glad nobody was hurt, and of course you did the right thing.

Mind you, I read the subject heading and didn't need to look at who'd posted it!

Anthea x

Amanda

If the restaurant is part of a chain then you must write to their head office immediately.

If the restaurant is an independent then write to them direct

A similar thing happened to a friend a short while ago. On thic occasion it was a matchstick.

Also contact your local public health department.

Do not be fobbed off with an offer of a free meal etc. The very last thing that they will want in the current economic climate is bad publicity.

Oh my gosh amanda, thats awfull I agree with bob, hope your all ok though.

coz x

Really, I feel very shaken and unable to decide what to do.

I know this sounds a bit mad but I feel so sorry for them, I mean it was obviously unintentional.

Yet when I think Patchy could have choked or worse, it doesn't bear thinking about.

Thank you VERY much for your suggestions and I am going to e/mail my brother now. He told me to take a photo of the nail! but I didn't as I just wanted to get out of the place.

Love,
A

Amanda, what a frightening experience. Glad you are all ok now.

Deb x

Amanda, it's not mad to feel like that at all. I'd feel sorry for them as well in a way; they obviously didn't do it intentionally and they must feel awful about it. I have to admit that I'd probably let it go, on the grounds that I'd think they'd at least be more careful in future. On the other hand I think I'd want to get in touch with the manufacturers of the mixer in question; perhaps you could liaise with the restaurant about this, so that they know how concerned you are? Just a thought ...

Anthea x

This is awful Amanda! I agree with Bob: you do need to complain. If they are using machinery in the kitchen that is shedding nails I wonder what esle is in there?
Did the little one get something sweet to compensate? Not nice for him to bite on a nail in the first place but then to be deprived of his chocolate pudding - well!!!!

Eleanor x

Amanda, so pleased to hear that Patrick is OK. I agree with what others have said, don't be fobbed off with what sounds to me like a feeble excuse and do seek legal advice. This is awful and should never have happened, and the manager knows this. Poor little Patrick, he's so lucky to have noticed the nail. This place needs shutting down until investigations are completed to identify the source of the contamination - I just don't buy the managers explanation that a nail fell out of the mixer - they're having a laugh aren't they?

You deserve not 2, but 3 glasses of wine

Love,

Barbara
XXXXXX

Or maybe a whole bottle, Barbara? Scandalous, Amanda and of course they can't be allowed to get away with it. Deighted Patrick is OK though