No, We're Not That Family (Italian-Americans mad at Olive Garden)

Opnionjournal ^ | July 26, 2002 | Victorino Matus

[stands2reason]

Italian-Americans have a problem, and it's not "The Sopranos."

Italian-Americans are speaking out. They are complaining about a stereotype they just can't stand. One that they find inaccurate and misleading. One that is constantly shown on television, much to their disgust. They are unhappy. They are at their wit's end. They are fed up.

[Cable225]

That OK with you, Hoss?

Ooooh, Hoss, I can't remember the last time I heard that.

And no, I really don't care if you like the OG or not. I just found it amusing that so many people could get worked up over a restaurant. Don't take it personally.

Ok, Slappy?

[KLT]

[F16Fighter]

LOL -- thanks for the link ya rat-bastid! Not for nuttin, but this website is a frickin' riot!

[mlocher]

thanks for this fine, illuminating, life making article. i do not know how i would have lived my life without having read this.

[Clemenza]

I agree. This Mezzo Paisano finds it riduculous when certain of his Fratelli get uptight over this BS.

That being said, the Olive Garden still sucks. There is one in NYC (in Times Square) that is solely patronized by tourists from Fargo.

[Clemenza]

Unfortunately, some of dem "cavones" even migrated down here to the Jersey Shore...

My mom's people have been going to the shore since the glory days of the steel pier. Both her and my father (a Polack from Newark) were just two of many "Newarkies" (despite the fact that mom was from Jersey City, all North Jerseyites were called "Newarkies" back then) who spent their summers "down'a shore" in the 50s and 60s.

[Clemenza]

live in NJ and I'm an Italian-American and I don't know a signle wop who frequents the Olive Garden. My friends who aren't Italian love to go there, but the food is so bland and mediocre it isn't funny.

The Polish side of my family enjoys the place, 'nuff said. Then again, I miss those Sunday afternoon suppers with my grandmother when she would make Golapki and Kielbasy, followed by Krysticki for dessert.

[Clemenza]

Duh commoicials r SO STOOPID! I'll Nevah take my muddah to the Olive Garden when I can take 'er ova to Mario's on Arthur Avenue, a REAL red sauce jernt.

[Clemenza]

Buca de Bepo is up there with Maggiano's Little Italy as one of the better chain restaurants (although the only two Maggiano's I have seen have been in Chicago and Boca Raton). Still, nothing beats mom's cooking, or the old school red sauce places in NY/NJ or the new school Italian places in Manhattan for my money.

[Clemenza]

Is it better than Dominick's?

I find Dominick's to be inconsistent, although outstanding on a good day. Mario's is directly across the street BTW and was feature in THE BOOK (but not the movie) of The Godfather (remember when Michael shot McCluskey?).

Other Arthur Avenue-area recommendations: Amici's on 187th and Hoffman (just east of Arthur Avenue) and Roberto's on 186th, just west of Arthur.

[billbears]

Hey, I'm from the South, can I complain about The Dukes of Hazzard?

What are you talking about?!? That's how I learned to drive!! I watched it when it first came on, even watched the reruns. OK, not the later episodes with the cousins...

[Marie Antoinette]

Mmmm, I really miss my grandma's cooking. I love kluski with my sausage. And Polish horseradish :-)

Is krysticki the bow ties? I tried my hand at them last Christmas and they really went over well! My family would have Plum Pierogi for dessert for holidays. Mmmmmmm... You can't buy a good pierog, they HAVE to be made by Buscia :-)

Even though the food wasn't remarkable, I miss the old Warsaw Inn in the Chicago suburbs. Not many Polish restaurants out there!

My extended family lives/lived in the Blue Island/Cal City area. Blue Island was a typical (ha!) Polish/Italian neighborhood. ALL Catholics, one Polish parish, and one Italian parish. The St. Donatus carnival every August was a summer highlight, especially the dago sausages! Yummmm!

[PhilDragoo]

My father's second wife came from Italy to open an Italian restaurant in Indianapolis. Several posters referred to Indianapolis. She is dead now, and I do not know the particulars of the restaurant--but she had a winning passion about food. She could convince you of the spiritual quality of the bread she made--not with words, but rather inflection and a hand gesture and a pinch of your cheek.

My son-in-law's wedding reception dinner was routed to an Olive Garden banquet room between the San Diego chapel and the country club ballroom. The food was rationed out by Seinfeld's soup nazis--I was not aware of its quality, only of the stern attention to business of the guards. A charge was issued for each additional breadstick--I jest, but just.

The intent of the teevee commercials is to create the schmoozy Norman Rockwell impression of the Italian family dinner--a nice pool into which tense American families can submerge their busy worries.

The author of the piece makes his money carping. He's a carp on a plate at a place I wouldn't go, not being family.

[Clemenza]

Is krysticki the bow ties?

Yes.

There is actually a Polish bakery/deli in my new neighborhood (despite the fact that the population is largely Irish/Norwegian/Lebanese). I know many other Polish places in New York/New Jersey and I lived in Chicago for two years, so I know the places on Milwaukee (esp. between Belmont and Lawrence) well.

[KLT]

The author of the piece makes his money carping. He's a carp on a plate at a place I wouldn't go, not being family.

Thank you Phil....interesting family history...

Freegards!

[jjm2111]

In NYC you can tell the good Sushi places by the number of Asians (especially Japanese) eating there.

In Texas you can tell the good Mexican places by the number of Mexicans eating there. The only chain place that I thought served outstanding Mexican food was Little Anita's in New Mexico. There's only three of them (or the there were the last time I was in NM) and the food was delicious.

[jjm2111]

I sincerely hope you're being sarcastic.

Besides, what could possibly make an American of Italian-descent self-hating save excessive back hair and greasy pores? The silliest affectations of all guidos are controlled by the individuals using them. (i.e. IROC-Z's; flashy gold chains; "guniea tee's" or for you southerners, "wife-eaters"; excessive hair pomade)

[jjm2111]

Yeah, most people don't know the difference between northern and sourthern italian food. And there is quite a difference. But most Italian immigrants to this country were from the third-worldesque South. Hence the preponderence of Southern italian food even in good restaurants.