Friends and blog readers often ask me why I do all the canning and freeze drying that I do. Here’s a good reason. This is also the reason why I do not like eating out. Even the few places that I will go to, I have a hard time eating out. I start wondering if the employees washed their hands; if they . . you don’t want to know all the things that go through my head. I figure it’s some mental issue I have . . right up there with not being able to drive across bridges.
So . . yesterday about 1 p.m., we went to the restaurant Vince likes and I truly detest. Most of the time he will go by himself but yesterday, I was trying to be nice, though I didn’t need a single thing from town but I went with him.
Last night, he went to bed early . . said he wasn’t feeling well. About 11 p.m., I started feeling really bad. Stomach cramps like I’ve never had . . I’ll spare you the rest of the details.
Vince and I both were sick all night. I took Imodium about 2 a.m. and followed the instructions on the bottle. By 3 a.m., I’d had my max dosage for the day. I think it was about 4:30 when I finally was able to go to sleep. Most of the day, we felt bad. Vince called the health department to see if there had been any other complaints. The guy said “Did you eat ice cream?” Yes. He told Vince he’d made them remove the ice cream machine but apparently they thought it was ok and put it back. The health department is going back tomorrow to check things out. If I had to guess, I say the health department is a frequent visitor at this restaurant and that does not surprise me.
I’m not saying it was the restaurant. All I’m saying for sure is we were both pretty sick all night.
This evening Vince said “Chicken soup sounds good.” Since about 2 p.m., Vince had been trying to think of something we might eat. Nothing sounded good to me but chicken soup . . I could go for that.
I grabbed a jar of chicken and a jar of broth. I knew we didn’t need that much chicken so I put half of it in another jar and I’ll make quesadillas in the next day or so.
The chickens were happy because they got the carrot peelings.
From the time I opened the jar, cut the carrots, shredded the chicken, and dished it up, it took about 10 minutes.
Served with shredded parmesan cheese and saltine crackers . . that is good for the soul!
I’m feeling much better but Vince is still not feeling so great. Hopefully tomorrow, we’ll both be back to normal but you can bet I never go back to that restaurant. I wouldn’t bet the farm that Vince won’t go back though.
Nelle Coursey says
Food poisoning is the worst!! We had it in July 1973 from eating a hamburger at the Sonic. the one in front of Walmart here. We were so sick and Pat heaved so much, his stomach is now 3/4 of the way into his esophagus! We didn’t have anything like Imodium back then. But our doctor was open Saturday morning so he called in some RX’s for us. The lady that brought them to our house knocked on the door and ran back to her car!! We do know it was the Hamburger because that was all we ate that day!! We turned it in but id did not do any good. Now Paul Coghlin, health inspector, will do something about it!! He will and has closed them down. Pat and I still suffer from that episode!!
Teri says
OH YUCK! Sorry to hear this. Did you both have ice cream? Is that what you think was bad??
Feel better after the home cooked chicken soup? Hope so.
Judy Laquidara says
The health department guy seemed to think it was the ice cream. Apparently that’s been a problem in the past. Vince and I pretty much ate the same things so it really could have been anything.
Thanks! I do feel better but Vince doesn’t.
Liz says
Glad you are feeling better – does Vince have a favorite Chinese item that you can learn how to cook safely? I had a neighbor who taught me several dishes (sushi and dumplings) which was great and I still make them knowing what is in the mixture.
A few posts ago, I used the term “clean eating” and you wondered what I meant by it. To me, it is using ingredients which are closest to the source and have the fewest additives. I did the Whole 30 program to find out what I am sensitive to and it is mostly the chemicals. I can eat meats, but not meats that have been processed. I can make my own meatballs, but I cannot buy the frozen ones since there are lots of no-nos in the list of ingredients. I use whole milk, butter, higher fat items and not the lo-fat stuff. My body deals with those items better than the stuff with the chemicals. For example, the Daisy carton of sour cream lists “cultured cream” and that is it. The low-fat carton lists a few more items.
I do a lot of label reading, but it is worth it. I still react to foods, but it is usually when I eat the item several times a week. One or two times seem to be ok – the third time and I am itching. I still go out to restaurants, but I know which ones are better with disclosure of ingredients. There is a national chain that actually lists what programs that they are compliant with – keto, whole 30, paleo, vegan, and so on.
Judy Laquidara says
I just wasn’t seeing what wasn’t “clean” about the jackfruit in the cans since it only contained the fruit, sea salt and organic lime juice.
Judy Laquidara says
About the learning to cook Chinese – I don’t really like a lot of Chinese foods. Vince is retired. If he really wants Chinese foods, he can learn to cook them just as easy as I can. I’m not trying to be ugly but we both have the same amount of free time in our days now.
carolyn says
Judy, I’m so sorry! That’s the worst…I’m glad you’re feeling better and I hope Vince is soon. He’s a big guy, it may just be taking longer to get through his system.
Linda in NE says
At one time the ice cream machine at our local eatery was causing people to get sick. It wasn’t being cleaned properly. My daughter was telling me just the other night that last year when the moms were putting on team suppers for the football players the night before a game, one of the moms made something with taco meat and about half the team spent the next day feeling the effects of food poisoning. She was pretty sure that this year that mom wasn’t being asked to provide anything that could make the boys sick.
Donna in KS says
When our oldest grandson played varsity football, similar problem one time. Our son and daughter-in-law cooked the meals every week for the remainder of two football seasons. They work well together in the kitchen!!!
dezertsuz says
I wouldn’t go back to a place where I got sick after eating! There are too many other choices, and there’s always home. I don’t ever get sick here!