1 June 2009

How bad can a lemon chicken be?

| johnboy
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The Canberra Times has the curious case of Gordon’s Mark Wood who’s suing the Lanyon Valley Chinese Restaurant seeking $128,877 for a dodgy lemon chicken he claims they delivered the effects of which are still, he claims, being felt.

The company owning the restaurant is adopting a Bart Simpson defence:

    In papers filed to the court, the Wings Company Limited, which owned the Lanyon Valley Chinese Restaurant in 2006, denies delivering the food to Mr Wood’s house, denies that there was anything wrong with its meals, or that the plaintiff suffered any ill affects from eating its food.

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Urk, recommending the slop at the Lyneham Chinese place? I seriously haven’t had a worse meal in my entire life… and I’ve had the sausage sarnies in Trafalgar Square at 2am, and “kebabs” elsewhere in London after serious nights at the pub.

Honestly, the worst “Chinese” food I’ve had in my entire life was there, and no, while authentic is nice sometimes, I’m not expecting it from the local chopshop. I do expect an edible chicken fried rice though. I can’t remember what my companion ordered, but it was not recognisable as food.

Yes – that is too true igglepiggle, and as I said, it is, indeed, a lovely place to dine locally.

I haven’t been to Vichans. I can’t see how any place that does 8 or so “cuisines” can do any of them well.
As for the Thai, I am comparing it to other outer suburban outlets. Sure, its not as good as what I used to eat in Newtown during the uni days, but when the competition is Kingsleys, Dominos etc, they are a shining light in the valley.

Ewwwww!

Do you mean the Punjabi Hut at Erindale or is there a new place at Lanyon? We were so excited about the Erindale Indian place, as the original Punjabi Hut in Queanbeyan was worth crossing the border for (cheap, excellent food etc…). It was no where near as good; both food quality and price-wise.

No, this place isn’t a restaurant so much as a takeaway (Vichan’s World Cuisine). They have a bit of everything – Indian, Italian, take your pick. It’s where that pizza shop was (the one near Corks Liquor) that my kids called Fat Pizza. If the health inspectors went anywhere near this joint I reckon their days would be numbered. It’s gross.

so essentially we should all eat bland tasteless food to cater for the lowest common denominator?

That market is already well catered to – its called McDonalds (and KFC, Hungry Jacks’, Dominos, etc)

misspris said :

It’s funny Miss Misspris, but I nearly wrote a review of our meal, but decided not to as I felt that the place had only just started up and deserved a settling in period. The staff were lovely (really lovely), the decor is gorgeous, the ambience is soothing, our kids were made to feel very welcome, the service was fantastic and I feel that the place is a welcome addition to the Lanyon area. I am not going to talk about the calibre of the Thai food though, until I go again and see if there has been any improvement. My husband and I are Thai aficionados and frankly, I was extremely disappointed.

It’s not the best Thai food I’ve ever eaten I’ll admit, although it wasn’t dreadful by any means. I’m just happy for ANY new restaurant out our way to be honest. A good Indian restaurant would be a bonus – have you been to that horror round near High Country Meats? Now there’s an accident waiting for a place to happen!

Do you mean the Punjabi Hut at Erindale or is there a new place at Lanyon? We were so excited about the Erindale Indian place, as the original Punjabi Hut in Queanbeyan was worth crossing the border for (cheap, excellent food etc…). It was no where near as good; both food quality and price-wise.

It’s funny Miss Misspris, but I nearly wrote a review of our meal, but decided not to as I felt that the place had only just started up and deserved a settling in period. The staff were lovely (really lovely), the decor is gorgeous, the ambience is soothing, our kids were made to feel very welcome, the service was fantastic and I feel that the place is a welcome addition to the Lanyon area. I am not going to talk about the calibre of the Thai food though, until I go again and see if there has been any improvement. My husband and I are Thai aficionados and frankly, I was extremely disappointed.

It’s not the best Thai food I’ve ever eaten I’ll admit, although it wasn’t dreadful by any means. I’m just happy for ANY new restaurant out our way to be honest. A good Indian restaurant would be a bonus – have you been to that horror round near High Country Meats? Now there’s an accident waiting for a place to happen!

Madame Workalot9:42 am 02 Jun 09

xdave said :

Madame Workalot said :

The guy has irritable bowel syndrome, FFS. If he can prove that the onset of IBS was brought about by the food, why shouldn’t he be entitled to compensation?

so essentially we should all eat bland tasteless food to cater for the lowest common denominator? and not only that, but make it yet ANOTHER litigious issue?

psht

I think I see where you’re going with this, but that’s not the issue. The argument is that the severe food poisoning the guy suffered brought on the condition of IBS. Not that the food exacerbated an already present condition.

Sorry – italics issues.

misspris said :

Igglepiggle said :

Haven’t been to this one as I’m not a member of the club but the other Chinese takeaway at Lanyon is fine as far as suburban chinese takeaways go (the Dim Sum) and we just tried the new Thai this week and it was great (as has been reviewed on here before)
And Master Igglepiggle is very pleased that both the aforementioned places have the waving good luck cat on the counter (essential in my opinion).

I’m glad someone other than hubby and I enjoyed it. Deezagood wasn’t a fan apparently 🙂

quote]

It’s funny Miss Misspris, but I nearly wrote a review of our meal, but decided not to as I felt that the place had only just started up and deserved a settling in period. The staff were lovely (really lovely), the decor is gorgeous, the ambience is soothing, our kids were made to feel very welcome, the service was fantastic and I feel that the place is a welcome addition to the Lanyon area. I am not going to talk about the calibre of the Thai food though, until I go again and see if there has been any improvement. My husband and I are Thai aficionados and frankly, I was extremely disappointed.

Madame Workalot said :

The guy has irritable bowel syndrome, FFS. If he can prove that the onset of IBS was brought about by the food, why shouldn’t he be entitled to compensation?

so essentially we should all eat bland tasteless food to cater for the lowest common denominator? and not only that, but make it yet ANOTHER litigious issue?

psht

Madame Workalot9:28 am 02 Jun 09

xdave said :

If this man has been diagnosed with IBS, – obviously a medical condition that effects diet, then this man should know what he can and cannot eat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irritable_bowel_syndrome#Diet

Hey every restaurant make sure your menu is Gluten free, IBS safe, sugar free, nut free, MSG free, and while your there you better make it tasty

that’s BS

I don’t get your point. Obviously now he would have to follow a strict diet. Obviously now he would try his best to eat out at places that can accommodate him. But that has nothing to do with how the IBS presented in the first place.

I’m no doctor so I won’t comment on whether the IBS could have been caused by the food or if he was somehow predisposed to IBS. IF he can prove that the dodgy food brought on IBS that likely would not have been present otherwise, he should be eligible to receive compensation.

You wound eyes make me waugh hahaha.

If this man has been diagnosed with IBS, – obviously a medical condition that effects diet, then this man should know what he can and cannot eat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irritable_bowel_syndrome#Diet

Hey every restaurant make sure your menu is Gluten free, IBS safe, sugar free, nut free, MSG free, and while your there you better make it tasty

that’s BS

Madame Workalot8:35 am 02 Jun 09

Alfaphen said :

Being a lawyer and having worked in a Chinese restaurant, I find this case absolutely ridiculous. I just hope this guy gets “costs orders” against him! The next minute this guy will be suing his lawyer for pro neg for certifying his case having reasonable prospects of success.

Why exactly is it ridiculous?

Apart from the money that *may* have been earnt from the promotion, I don’t really think the principles of this case are wrong if he can prove that the food was bad. The guy has irritable bowel syndrome, FFS. If he can prove that the onset of IBS was brought about by the food, why shouldn’t he be entitled to compensation? If his illness (both the temporary sickness and any ongoing effects) was brought about by someone else’s negligence, he should be duly compensated for it.

Igglepiggle said :

Haven’t been to this one as I’m not a member of the club but the other Chinese takeaway at Lanyon is fine as far as suburban chinese takeaways go (the Dim Sum) and we just tried the new Thai this week and it was great (as has been reviewed on here before)
And Master Igglepiggle is very pleased that both the aforementioned places have the waving good luck cat on the counter (essential in my opinion).

I’m glad someone other than hubby and I enjoyed it. Deezagood wasn’t a fan apparently 🙂

On that basis Master Igglepiggle would probably like Chinese Kitchen in Woden. I’m a bit partial to their duck pancakes and the soup is good too.

South side and take away chinese equals trouble.
Come to the north side and have a sit down meal….

Seriously, Home delivered food in plastic containers is crap. You would be better off eating the container. Although I believe they are bad for your health too.
Bain Marie food is a breeding ground for bacteria because you never know how long it has been sitting there or who has had thier stinking fingers in it. When self serve food was all the rage I went once, but never returned after I seen a man pick his ass and then put it in the ice cream…..NO JOKE>.

I agree with Mr Wood. Substandard products and services are unacceptable…..If i missed out on a promotion I would want heads to roll too….

I remember one meal of Lemon Chicken from a place in Kambah that was terribly dry. But Tea House at Erindale is quite nice, but I hate getting out of Erindale at peak though. But I can’t say if the Kambah or Erindale Chinese places made me ill as I eat other crap that could of been the one to do it to me.

Good luck proving causation. Especially with the foregone income from the promotion.

(I’m sure the guy wanted to go for $128,877.43 but the lawyer said that would be just silly.)

You don’t want the judge to think you are being greedy…

I don’t think it could be possibly as bad as $128,877 suggests. $114,792 seems much more appropriate. (I’m sure the guy wanted to go for $128,877.43 but the lawyer said that would be just silly.)

Being a lawyer and having worked in a Chinese restaurant, I find this case absolutely ridiculous. I just hope this guy gets “costs orders” against him! The next minute this guy will be suing his lawyer for pro neg for certifying his case having reasonable prospects of success.

Noodle Castle which is in Banks, IIRC, does an OK Laksa. King Prawn Laksa – $13 bucks with 13 king prawns and bonus tofu puffs.

I wouldn’t recommend the Banks/Gordon Dominos though. That was one home delivered pizza that someone I know will never, ever forget. 10 days in hospital and minutes away from exploratory stomach and bowel surgery will do that to a person.

shiny flu said :

Ordering Westernised food (lemon chicken/Honey prawns/fried ice cream) from a ‘chinese’ restaurant, go figure.

Aren’t they allowed to innovate?

Clown Killer9:25 pm 01 Jun 09

Yep – I’ve eaten a crispy lemony chicken dish from a rural Chinese village food place (although in hindsight, it may well have been crispy lemon dog).

I know where you’re coming from Deezagood.

Holierthanthou9:21 pm 01 Jun 09

the chicken has probably more cause for complaint

china tea club is nice and has always stayed down for me

Felix the Cat9:01 pm 01 Jun 09

Gungahlin Al said :

Well sometimes a simple meal can go horribly wrong. I have had one such takeaway meal a couple of years ago from one Gungahlin business leading to urgent medical attention needed. If anyone has ever experienced whole-body hives, you’d know that the itching can test you to the limit.

Are you talking Asian takeaway or some other sort? I’ve had dodgy food (just tasted crap, not a reaction like yours!) from the Asian place down near the Pizza shops, the other place back up the road across the road from the entrance to the “G” is OK.

Rebeccas Chinese Inn @ Kippax is good too.

Clown Killer said :

It’s not really that westernised. Maybe a little sweeter (the lemon chicken) or without the seasame seeds (honey chicken/prawns) but these dishes can be found in many southern Chinese towns.

Yep – I’ve eaten a crispy lemony chicken dish from a rural Chinese village food place (although in hindsight, it may well have been crispy lemon dog).

Clown Killer – they can be found in some of these southern Chinese towns only because 1) they do it for the tourists, or 2) they’ve adopted them from abroad, and they call it foreign food.

grunge_hippy6:50 pm 01 Jun 09

i’ve had no probs with lanyon, but i have had dodgy chinese before from some place in the canberra centre food court many moons ago. they are much more dodgy, with the food sitting on display all day. ugh. at least lanyon is freshly made.

Clown Killer5:40 pm 01 Jun 09

It’s not really that westernised. Maybe a little sweeter (the lemon chicken) or without the seasame seeds (honey chicken/prawns) but these dishes can be found in many southern Chinese towns.

shiny flu said :

Ordering Westernised food (lemon chicken/Honey prawns/fried ice cream) from a ‘chinese’ restaurant, go figure.

I’m pretty sure, being bargain basement prices, aimed at families, and based at Lanyon Tuggies, that I’m not kidding myself regarding quality/authenticity. Some people might be I suppose (Mr Wood *cough cough*).

Doesn’t mean it’s not tasty though!

Igglepiggle said :

Haven’t been to this one as I’m not a member of the club but the other Chinese takeaway at Lanyon is fine as far as suburban chinese takeaways go (the Dim Sum)

FTR I would rate the Tuggies one above the other one at Lanyon shops.

Haven’t been to this one as I’m not a member of the club but the other Chinese takeaway at Lanyon is fine as far as suburban chinese takeaways go (the Dim Sum) and we just tried the new Thai this week and it was great (as has been reviewed on here before)
And Master Igglepiggle is very pleased that both the aforementioned places have the waving good luck cat on the counter (essential in my opinion).

A really good dose of Salmonella can kill you, if you don’t actually die, it can screw up your guts and bowels for years afterwards.

Ordering Westernised food (lemon chicken/Honey prawns/fried ice cream) from a ‘chinese’ restaurant, go figure.

A Noisy Noise Annoys An Oyster4:20 pm 01 Jun 09

Jim Jones said :

I’d like to get a bunch of people to bring a class action suit against the Dickson Tradies for getting rid of the awesome schnitzelarium and replacing it with the overpricedvomitoriom.

. . . and Woden Tradies for closing down the excellent and sorely missed 83 Restaurant.

Jim Jones said :

I’d like to get a bunch of people to bring a class action suit against the Dickson Tradies for getting rid of the awesome schnitzelarium and replacing it with the overpricedvomitoriom.

+1. They are the real villains here. Food wreckers.

I’d like to get a bunch of people to bring a class action suit against the Dickson Tradies for getting rid of the awesome schnitzelarium and replacing it with the overpricedvomitoriom.

Inappropriate3:45 pm 01 Jun 09

ant said :

Mr Evil said :

Some people spend thousands of dollars trying to find a good whole-of-system system purgitive: this bloke should be paying the restaurant, not the other way around!

It’s the Lemon Detox Diet! Brought straight to your house.

Touché

Mr Evil said :

Some people spend thousands of dollars trying to find a good whole-of-system system purgitive: this bloke should be paying the restaurant, not the other way around!

It’s the Lemon Detox Diet! Brought straight to your house.

Gungahlin Al2:06 pm 01 Jun 09

peterh said :

Gungahlin Al said :

chewy14 said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Well sometimes a simple meal can go horribly wrong. I have had one such takeaway meal a couple of years ago from one Gungahlin business leading to urgent medical attention needed. If anyone has ever experienced whole-body hives, you’d know that the itching can test you to the limit.

As someone with no known allergies, I can only wonder what was in that meal to cause such a reaction. (And a second flare-up after having some leftovers from the same meal left me certain as to the source.)

You went back for seconds?

Lesson learnt hard way…

is it? or have you done it again?

Indeed. Not a cent of my family’s well-earned has gone that business’s way since. And fortunately there is a lot more choice in Gungahlin now too.

Some people spend thousands of dollars trying to find a good whole-of-system system purgitive: this bloke should be paying the restaurant, not the other way around!

And you have to ask yourselves: did he really miss out on the job promotion just because of a case of food poisoning, or was he simply not good enough for the job in the first place?

Gungahlin Al said :

chewy14 said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Well sometimes a simple meal can go horribly wrong. I have had one such takeaway meal a couple of years ago from one Gungahlin business leading to urgent medical attention needed. If anyone has ever experienced whole-body hives, you’d know that the itching can test you to the limit.

As someone with no known allergies, I can only wonder what was in that meal to cause such a reaction. (And a second flare-up after having some leftovers from the same meal left me certain as to the source.)

You went back for seconds?

Lesson learnt hard way…

is it? or have you done it again?

Gungahlin Al1:08 pm 01 Jun 09

chewy14 said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Well sometimes a simple meal can go horribly wrong. I have had one such takeaway meal a couple of years ago from one Gungahlin business leading to urgent medical attention needed. If anyone has ever experienced whole-body hives, you’d know that the itching can test you to the limit.

As someone with no known allergies, I can only wonder what was in that meal to cause such a reaction. (And a second flare-up after having some leftovers from the same meal left me certain as to the source.)

You went back for seconds?

Lesson learnt hard way…

Die Lefty Scum said :

Someone on R.A must’ve frequented the Lanyon Valley Chinese Restaurant?! Speak up!

Have eaten there a few times. Not the best chinese I have ever had, but pretty decent. Banquet was enjoyed by all when the in-laws came along.

For those that don’t know, this restaurant is actually inside the Lanyon Valley Tuggies Club, which may explain a few things (like how they also do pub grub on thurs, fri and saturday nights).

What was the name of that song a few years ago

Australian, Don’t Become America

With this sort of legal piffle it’s going that way. If the restaurant gets a decent solicitor this idiot will look even more idiotic

Gungahlin Al said :

Well sometimes a simple meal can go horribly wrong. I have had one such takeaway meal a couple of years ago from one Gungahlin business leading to urgent medical attention needed. If anyone has ever experienced whole-body hives, you’d know that the itching can test you to the limit.

As someone with no known allergies, I can only wonder what was in that meal to cause such a reaction. (And a second flare-up after having some leftovers from the same meal left me certain as to the source.)

You went back for seconds?

It was definitely a lot cheaper out there under the previous owners. Wouldn’t get a ten buck lemon chicken any more. I always thought their deep fried ice-cream was briliant value!

When ordering Chinese takeaway you should EXPECT to get the runs. If you don’t then its just a bonus. Who misses a promotion because they have Dehli Belly?! Please. Put on a nappy, eat a block of cheddar and get back to work.

Been into the club but never eaten there. It doesn’t look very appealing. I’ve had mild food poisoning at a restaurant in Civic in 2003. Maybe I should sue.

Gungahlin Al12:03 pm 01 Jun 09

Well sometimes a simple meal can go horribly wrong. I have had one such takeaway meal a couple of years ago from one Gungahlin business leading to urgent medical attention needed. If anyone has ever experienced whole-body hives, you’d know that the itching can test you to the limit.

As someone with no known allergies, I can only wonder what was in that meal to cause such a reaction. (And a second flare-up after having some leftovers from the same meal left me certain as to the source.)

The problem with this sort of experience is that it is often hard to pin down, and the food vendor is seldom brought to task. Yet regular RA folk will know well that there are some seriously dodgy practices at some Canberra food businesses – and we’ve seen photographic evidence here of this.

I like the defence. We didn’t deliver it, but if we did, then there was nothing wrong with it, but if there was, then it had no effect.

But is a home delivered chinese meal from anywhere just asking for trouble?

Die Lefty Scum said :

Someone on R.A must’ve frequented the Lanyon Valley Chinese Restaurant?! Speak up!

I’ve eaten there (several times actually) and lived to tell the tale. It’s not The Chairman and Yip but it’s pretty good when you’ve had a couple of drinks and you’re feeling peckish.

I can only just think of the profits made if Wings Co. Ltd went into selling products for people needing to slim down quickly….

Holden Caulfield said :

I suggest Mr Wood travels to Lyneham’s Mee Sing restaurant next time he wants some lemon chicken.

Or the Lyno Chino as my friends and I called it for years 🙂

Die Lefty Scum11:50 am 01 Jun 09

Someone on R.A must’ve frequented the Lanyon Valley Chinese Restaurant?! Speak up!

Haha thanks The Brad. No, In my haste I read it as “Gordon Mark Wood”. Oops.

Die Lefty Scum11:44 am 01 Jun 09

Why do people bother going down this avenue? He’s never going to win and’ll just end up looking like a complete twat.

On another point, Woody would have to really love his Lemon Chicken to drive from Lanyon to Lyneham, and I get the impression this little diarrhoetic episode has turned him off that particlar dish.

Roadrage77 said :

This Gordy bloke will stop at nothing to get a bit of attention, even if it means throwing his girlfriend off a cliff. Case dismissed.

This is Mark Wood from Gordon, not Gordon Wood.

Hmmm, maybe you were trying to make a funny.

Holden Caulfield11:35 am 01 Jun 09

I suggest Mr Wood travels to Lyneham’s Mee Sing restaurant next time he wants some lemon chicken.

This Gordy bloke will stop at nothing to get a bit of attention, even if it means throwing his girlfriend off a cliff. Case dismissed.

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