Diner scarred for life after sausage explodes in her face

A woman diner was left with horrific burns after a Portuguese sausage dish exploded in her face. Witnesses described how the flaming chorizo sausage dish burnt out of control when a waiter topped it up with rum at a table packed with people. The meal, served in a ceramic dish, arrived covered in burning alcohol, but the accident took place when a waiter added more.

Some Portuguese restaurants serve dishes in which chorizo sausage is cooked over burning spirits in a shallow terracotta bowl.

In general, high alcohol spirits such as brandy, grappa or rum are used and customers have the meat cooked to their taste at the table.