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Sunday February 12, 2012

What we're talking about

  • Christine on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' isn't it funny how DHS don't recognise the psychological effects of domestic violence on children and continue to allow ... more
  • Warrior princess on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' There is a family In the Cairns Area who are Foster Carers.Atherton Child Safety have threatened the carers and own ... more
  • duncan on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' i have spent time with this family. it is a house full of love. "mum", grandfather and older sblings.this cannot be an issue ... more
  • Tracey on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Family Law is different from the rest of the law in this country.. Ie. Family Law is based on probability: ie if it might ... more
  • carol annetta on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' having known this family for some time i am disgusted with the treatment she has received. it seems more of a witch hunt ... more
  • Maureen Hillary on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Derryn,I have counselled traumatized parents as a result of DHS staff.There are great staff workers who care but they ... more
  • Janet Tavener on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I am a visitor to this country.My attention was drawn to the case of these children and their foster mother by a relative of ... more
  • sam on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Happening in Tasmania also.Wewon a court case over 8 months ago and due process still hasn't been done.We spent 17,000 ... more
  • Anne Glover on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I just cannot believe what the DHS has put the Foster Mother, and the children through - I thought the DHS was supposed to ... more
  • Tracey on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' DHS are the most disgraceful organization I have ever had the displeasure of becoming involved with. They are so ... more
  • Vicki on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hi Derryn,I have known this carer since primary school, she has always put others above herself. Being a carer myself I know ... more
  • Gran'ma Pam on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' As any of us with any sense know, these children should NEVER have been taken from this lady (mum) in the first place, they ... more
  • Dominic Lombardo on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I see my daughter every six months DHS are conducting a vendetta against me I have not been told why I can only see her ... more
  • cassy houghton on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hello Derryn,Firstly i would like to thankyou for your support and the willingness to help this beautiful family.I ... more
  • Warrior princess on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Im a carer also in Qld. I see this happen way too much from our Government. They are starting to use Carers own children as ... more
  • paul on "I'll pay the fee," says Hinch I believe what Liberal Party has done is stupid. But I feel for candidates like Joh Bauch and James Buonopane who want to ... more
  • Andrea on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Why are these public servants allowed to blatantly flout the law without the same consequences the rest of society faces? I ... more
  • birth mother on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' i am the birth morther of these 4 children and i just want to say dhs dont care they just want the kids in care so they can ... more
  • Frances Goff on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Derryn, Firstly, Happy BirthdayHaving worked in a primary school for 15 year I have seen some terrible things regarding DHS ... more
  • Karen on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hi Derryn, I have known these children through "the system".for all of their lives. I have had regular contact with them ... more

Café bans baby food

Posted by: Derryn Hinch | 13 July, 2010 - 5:41 PM
Baby Food

First it was Paul Lynch, the famous Melbourne restaurateur who  declared his restaurant a baby free zone. He was fined $10,000 from memory but the publicity was worth far more than that. And from then on until he sold it and it closed down recently there was a no baby zone sticker in the window – like a no smoking sign.

In recent times we have seen the café  revolt against armadas of huge prams jamming tables at trendy eateries.  Café owners complaining that prams are now the size of Studebakers and the young mothers who attend the morning café klatch sit  for hours over one latte.

Now there’s a new debate zone. Should a mother be allowed to take her own baby food to a restaurant? And what happens when she does?

Well, it happened to one listener. Her reaction and the restaurant reaction coming up next.

PLAYING NOW: Derryn Hinch speaks to first-time mum Simone Corbett

Read Simone's letter to Derryn below:

I am a first time mother of an eight and a half month old daughter.  I enjoy preparing healthy meals for her and as I have not yet introduced her to all foods, when dining out I take food I have prepared at home and when I get to a cafe/restaurant the staff are always obliging to heat her food for me. 

You would not believe what happened to us on Saurday 10th July! 

My husband, mother-in-law, my baby and I went to Ferguson Street Provisions Cafe in Williamstown and were kindly seated by a young friendly man at a table.  Just as we put our baby daughter in a highchair and opened her food to feed her a waitress came over to me and said, "Excuse me, I'm sorry, but we don't allow people to feed their babies in this cafe".  I said, "Are you joking?"  She said, "No, but we do have spaghetti on the children's menu".  I was gobsmacked for about ten seconds then I replied, "Well, we'll leave then". 

She responded with a careless, "Ok".  We sat there for a minute in disbelief and then I approached the manager and asked her to explain and she said they don't want people bringing outside food in due to allergies.  She also said they cater for a range of allergies and don't want people to bring in fruit or sandwiches.  I said I wasn't feeding anyone else except my baby and the food I had was mashed baby food brought from home, but she would not allow me to feed my daughter mashed baby food in her cafe. 

We couldn't believe it!  In my haste to leave the cafe I flung my baby's bag over my shoulder and accidently knocked over the 'wait to be seated sign' and as we walked out, in complete embarrasement, a waitress called out, "Trash the place why don't you!"  We walked along the street for a while unable to comprehend their reasoning then walked to another cafe and told them what happened.  They made our lunch extra special with their baby friendly service.

I am writing this letter to you because I was made to feel totally ostracised by the staff at this cafe.  My husband, mother-in-law and I are respectable people, nicely dressed and were'nt looking for trouble.  I feel that this cafe has excluded me as I have responsibilities to feed my baby and I feel discriminated against  as a parent.

I would greatly appreciate receiving some information about my rights as a mother to feed my baby in a cafe.  Am I sensitive or is this becoming the norm in cafe etiquette?

 

3AW Drive with Hinch

Derryn Hinch Hinch is a former police rounds reporter, former foreign correspondent, former newspaper editor, former host of national current affairs shows, former novelist, former radio host in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, former MIDDAY host and former jailbird.

Blog comments Your Say

  • I don't know why this is a Mother's rights issue, it has nothing to do with Mothers rights. Surely the cafe owners can decide what policies they want to implement! If customers don't like it they won't go there.

    Luke Monday 19 July, 2010 - 6:03 PM

  • John,
    sounding very much like a relative or friend of the owner..

    Caz Sunday 18 July, 2010 - 12:30 PM

  • I too would like to defend this cafe. I have been eating there for at least 8 years now and we eat with our 3yo daughter who has been coming with us since she was a newborn. The staff have always welcomed her and even make her special treats with her name written on it (without us asking).

    They are always friendly and work incredibly hard. This cafe is the most popular in Williamstown and any local knows it well. It is always packed and it is not unuasual to miss out on a seat on weekends. We don't like to go anywhere else, because the food is the best and it is child friendly.

    As well as spelling out the food policy on the tables, it is also posted on the front door, so visitors should see this as they come in.

    I think Hinch should visit the cafe to see the other side of story and also enjoy the best food in town.

    Lara Wood Sunday 18 July, 2010 - 12:18 PM

  • Hi there.

    Heard aboout this on the radio last night... Coincidently I was actually at this cafe when this incident took place, and at risk of being a stick in the mud... the baby food in question wasn't mashed baby food. There was pasta, fruit and some other solid foods I couldn't see properly. I also heard the owner behind the register explain their reasons, and also that any mashed baby food WAS acceptable. There is also signs on every table stating the rule and its explainations.

    I was actually quite embarrased for the mother, who made herself look rather immiture by calling the workers in the cafe a "Pack off A**holes!".

    I have been attending this cafe for some time now, and as I have allegies to nuts, I find their store policy of "No outside Food" to be pleasing, as I know they are looking out for the growing number of people in our community that suffer from allergies to certain foods.
    If the mother who made this complaint's child was a sufferer of allergies, I'm sure she would be happy knowing this cafe takes the right measures to ensure her child has a safe experience.

    I will continue to go to this cafe respecting their rules and hope people realize its just not right to take your own food to resturants/cafes!

    Regards,

    John Wednesday 14 July, 2010 - 10:02 AM

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