Posted on 09/16/2011 10:37:26 AM PDT by MNGal
I was so fed up yesterday after hearing that Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants have been working with Michelle Obama on her "Let's Move" childhood obesity campaign and have decided to no longer offer french fries with children's meal menu items. I mere told them that I didn't appreciate their attempt to usurp my role as a parent, my children should be able to order fries on a night out at a restaurant if they would like to (because we eat nutritiously at home), and in the future my family will be eating at restaurants that honor my freedom to be a parent and choose fries for my kids.
Here's the reply I received this morning from Darden Restaurants:
"Thank you for your comments concerning Darden.
We’re always interested in what our guests have to say, and we appreciate your taking the time to let us know your thoughts.
Additionally, your preference for French Fries has been documented for future consideration. Though rated highly by guests like yourself, its overall preference was below average, meaning only a small percentage of guests ordered it. Guest preferences are regularly reviewed to make additions or deletions appropriately.
Again, thank you for sharing your comments. We consider you a valued guest and hope you will continue to think of Olive Garden and Red Lobster for your dining occasions.
Sherri Bruen Olive Garden Guest Relations"
Form letter. Canned reply.
Note to DRI’s shareholders: Your board needs its collective head examined.
Hey, if they want to default to giving kids veggies instead of fries, fine - so long as a kid can walk in and order fries without requiring parental permission. “R” foods is absurd.
(I was about to use the “PG” comparison, but realized that’s wrong. Any kid with cash can walk in and see a PG movie. It’s R that they can’t pay for & get without parental presence.)
Send them another e-mail, with their reply in it, and say that you polled your weekly meeting group and they decided their preference was (insert local restaurant here) where their freedom of choice was respected.
Yes, a canned reply and a poor one at that. Stop going.
From Olive Garden, yes.
From Red Lobster, no.
..time to send another email....copy and paste their reply line about low orders...and just like posting here at FR...
IN BIG BLOCK LETTERS JUST TYPE ...BS
They perceive it as a double win. Nobody is going to order fries at a fake Italian restaurant. Maybe at a Red Lobster, I don’t know because I live in (M)assachusetts and wouldn’t be caught dead in one since lobster is plentiful here and we actually know how to cook fish and other ocean critters here.
I didn’t know they even offered French fries. For that matter, why would you even want them for your kids at a pseudo-Italian restaurant? And, of course, for the rest of us diners, if you have a small child that’s that picky, the inevitable screaming hissifits your children generate are soooo appetizing, fries or no fries.
I’m no fan of Moochelle or those that bow to her, but seriously?
Did you email? Do you have a email address for them?
I wonder if we will have to show proof to get fries
What would be a real hoot is to take the grandkids in there to eat and have them each bring their own McDonalds fries with them. LOL!
What BS!
Report to AttackWatch.com immediately.
Not me
French fries are an American staple...
Theyre building an Olive Garden in my town ...
There better be French fries or my gfandchildren wont eat there
...
I hope not, because I really don’t want to see yet more kids running screaming around the restaurant with a parent either not caring or in close pursuit.
1) Do not go to the restaurant.
2) Go to the restaurant.
3) Open up your own restaurant and serve whatever you want.
What kids don’t go to an “Italian” restaurant and order Spaghetti and Meatballs? BTW, Italians don’t order Spaghetti and Meatballs at restaurants because they will NEVER be as good as Grandma’s or Nonni’s or your Mother’s meatballs.
Shouldn't Olive Garden restaurants be banned from serving pasta? I mean, pasta is very, very, high in cholesterol, fat, starch, etc. Isn't pasta similar in many ways to a serving of french-fries?
I would support a move to ban pasta from the Olive Garden and from the White House.
(and, I am NOT joking)
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