We now know why Pierce Brosnan's wife claims she suffered "permanent injuries to her health, strength and activity" at an L.A. restaurant -- she took a bite of carrot cake with a special surprise inside ... a rock-hard walnut shell.

We broke the story ... Keely Brosnan sued R&D Kitchen claiming she became "sore, ill, and injured" after eating at the joint in October, 2009.

The suit doesn't specify what she ate -- but a rep for the restaurant now tells us ... Keely had complained about a walnut shell inside a piece of carrot cake that may have fractured her tooth.

The rep tells us, the restaurant immediately contacted its insurance company after the incident -- insisting, "We take food safety and cleanliness very seriously."  Apparently, if a payout was offered, it wasn't enough.

Keely Brosnan -- the wife of one of the best James Bonds ever -- has sued a Santa Monica restaurant, claiming she ate tainted food.

Keely claims she went to R & D Kitchen -- a fancy schmancy restaurant that has great burgers -- back in October 2009, and became "sore, ill and injured."

The suit does not say what Keely ate, but claims she "sustained serious and permanent injuries to her health, strength and activity."

She's suing for unspecified damages.

Nothing ruins a good friendship like money -- so it's safe to say Pierce Brosnan and Quentin Tarantino won't be talking to Michael Madsen anytime soon.

Seems Madsen is in debt to both guys big time. According to bankruptcy documents Madsen filed earlier this month, he owes $25,000 to 007 -- but he's into QT for a cool $1 million!

Pierce and QT shouldn't hold their breath while they wait for the "personal loans" to get paid back -- Madsen is almost a total of $4 million in the hole, and the docs say his net monthly income is $-3,392.

Sure, they're good friends and have mutual admiration for each other -- but if Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig fought to the death, only one Bond could emerge.

No offense to Daniel Craig, but with Barack Obama headed to the White House, our photog thought James Bond could go Black -- and while our guy listed off any Black actor he could think of, one 007 had a more obscure dude in mind.

Slight problem -- Colin already played another MI6 agent in three existing Bond films.

After seven years of marriage, it's apparent Pierce Brosnan's wife can definitely tell when her husband is in the mood....

It's not like we needed a reason to rewatch Pierce Brosnan eating sand after a paddleboarding spill in June -- it's just that amazing. So when we saw him outside of Nobu last night, we just had to ask.

The photog who says he suffered a Pierce Brosnan beatdown at a mall in Malibu last October, has had his case dismissed.

Rob Rosen tells TMZ, "The terms are confidential, but both parties are happy with the outcome." Not so fast says Pierce's attorney!

Brosnan's peeps tell us the case was voluntarily dismissed -- NOT settled -- and the terms are NOT confidential. We're told Rosen did not receive and will not receive any money, and let the case go after Brosnan agreed not to sue him. Nobody messes with James Bond!

Rosen had claimed the star "punched, hit, struck and attacked" him.

John Stamos is excited to get a star on the Walk of Fame -- so long as it's not near Bob Saget's. He shouldn't worry too much, Bob doesn't have one.

Also in L.A.: Jon Voight talked Angelina, Beyonce made a made dash from American Apparel, Traci Bingham smacked her own ass and Paula Abdul was got a pitchy birthday serenade.

In NY: Anne Hathaway gave paps the silent treatment, Abigail Breslin was swarmed for autographs, D-lister Kathy Griffin said she's never been to Casa Aramara, and Mario Lopez was asked about gettin' it on during the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Shiver me timbers!

Pierce Brosnan was shaken and stirred in Maui yesterday -- thanks to one misstep on a stand up paddleboard that threw him face first into the drink.

Given Pierce's volatile past with the paps, the former 007 probably didn't want his friend to do what he did last night.


Brosnan distanced himself from the guy as quickly as possible -- and good thing, because his bud's rant was definitely a bit batty.