Club Waziema in SF - won't allow me to bring rice!!

[Guest guest]

I just got off the phone w/ Club Waziema, an Ethiopian restaurant in SF. They confirmed that they add wheat flour to their injera. So I asked them if they served rice, and they said no. I then told them I had a medical condition that prevented me from eating wheat, and asked if it was ok to bring my own rice. They said that they don't allow any outside food. I tried to explain that it was discriminatory, but she didn't seem to understand. After putting me on hold for a while, they asked me to call back later and hung up on me.

I believe that ADA would apply. Reasonable accomodation for a disability. So I could probably make a good case, but I don't think I want to patronize them any more, and don't feel like going through all the trouble.

Has anyone else had this problem at Waziema? Can anyone recommend an Ethiopian restaurant in SF that serves rice, or allows you to bring your own?

Sharon

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[Guest guest]

I would be shocked if many restaurants allowed you to bring in outside food. It

isn't discrimination, it's food safety laws.

Trying to make this an ADA case goes far beyond the meaning of " reasonable

accomodation " - you want something they do not sell. They have no obligation to

sell you something that they do not offer other customers and to allow you to

bring food into their restaurant violates their rights to determine what their

business is. It also probably violates the law, as many states prohibit

restaurants from allowing outside food to be consumed there (not positive how

far this applies in California, but is very strictly applied in some states).

Places which primary business is other than the sale of food, i.e. sporting

venues and amusement parks, can be required to allow outside food under limited

ADA circumstances because the thought is you are paying them admission for their

primary business and not food.

Sorry, I see this as inconvenience, not discrimination.

Maureen

> From: Sharon P <hosnar@...>

> Subject: [ ] Club Waziema in SF - won't allow me to bring rice!!

> " " < >

> Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008, 10:09 PM

> I just got off the phone w/ Club Waziema, an Ethiopian

> restaurant in SF. They confirmed that they add wheat flour

> to their injera. So I asked them if they served rice, and

> they said no. I then told them I had a medical condition

> that prevented me from eating wheat, and asked if it was ok

> to bring my own rice. They said that they don't allow

> any outside food. I tried to explain that it was

> discriminatory, but she didn't seem to understand.

> After putting me on hold for a while, they asked me to call

> back later and hung up on me.

>

> I believe that ADA would apply. Reasonable accomodation

> for a disability. So I could probably make a good case, but

> I don't think I want to patronize them any more, and

> don't feel like going through all the trouble.

>

> Has anyone else had this problem at Waziema? Can anyone

> recommend an Ethiopian restaurant in SF that serves rice, or

> allows you to bring your own?

>

> Sharon

[Guest guest]

The ADA's website says restaurants should make reasonable

accommodations without significantly altering their business. That

being said I work on the rule of `like for like' substitutions. I

also learned the hard way to NOT ask in advance if I plan on bringing

my own food. It is much harder to say no to my face after I explain

living with CD than it is over the phone.

Injera is incredibly easy to make, shouldn't take more than 20 minutes

(once you find the teff that is!).

Injera Bread

1/4 cup plus 2 TBS teff

1/2 cup brown rice flour

2 TBS tapioca starch (or other starch flour)

1 tsp xanthan gum

1 cup of club soda (or water but soda water is better)

Pinch or two of salt

Oil of some sort for the pan – or butter (also makes it a bit tastier

– even if you have a nonstick skillet).

(**NOTE – Get to one full cup of a combination of flours. I don't use

more than 1/3 cup of teff otherwise it gets to be too much – for me.

But real injera is made of only teff – so experiment. I also don't

ferment the batter for a few days as others tend to do. But I think

injera is too sour)

Mix your flours, salt and xanthan gum together well. Slowly add the

water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes or so. While this is happening

get your pan nice and toasty and make it just like you would a crepe.

I wrap mine in foil and nicely ask them to throw it in the oven (all

wrapped up, when I get there).

I haven't been to Ethiopian (or used this recipe) in a while, perhaps

that is on order for this weekend!

***Ethiopian restaurants also usually put down a layer of injera under

the food that is ordered. Remember to ask them to NOT do this and to

put all injera on the side and bring you your own plate – and a spoon!

>

> > From: Sharon P <hosnar@...>

> > Subject: [ ] Club Waziema in SF - won't allow me to

bring rice!!

> > " " < >

> > Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008, 10:09 PM

> > I just got off the phone w/ Club Waziema, an Ethiopian

> > restaurant in SF. They confirmed that they add wheat flour

> > to their injera. So I asked them if they served rice, and

> > they said no. I then told them I had a medical condition

> > that prevented me from eating wheat, and asked if it was ok

> > to bring my own rice. They said that they don't allow

> > any outside food. I tried to explain that it was

> > discriminatory, but she didn't seem to understand.

> > After putting me on hold for a while, they asked me to call

> > back later and hung up on me.

> >

> > I believe that ADA would apply. Reasonable accomodation

> > for a disability. So I could probably make a good case, but

> > I don't think I want to patronize them any more, and

> > don't feel like going through all the trouble.

> >

> > Has anyone else had this problem at Waziema? Can anyone

> > recommend an Ethiopian restaurant in SF that serves rice, or

> > allows you to bring your own?

> >

> > Sharon

>