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.

[ErnBatavia]

So... what you YOU think? :-)

What I think is that Italian food is the biggest consumer ripoff in the food industry (of which I've been a part for 35 years) - think about the "food cost-charge" ratio; is twelve cents worth of noodles, gooped with cheese/tomato sauce worth $12.95?

No....this is why there are so many Italian restaurants; plain and simple.

[Khurkris]

Well said there Lad. As a Scottish/HillBilly I am searching for culinary identification...lol. Maybe Hagis & cornbread.

[hellinahandcart]

Those shrimp and that fish were probably pretty darned good, son...I had to be shown how to eat a fish that was served that way (and I was shown by an Italian), but it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it, and the fish is SO moist and flavorful when cooked intact like that.

I'm sorry, but I cannot eat food that is looking at me.

It's not really looking at you. But if it were, it would be winking and saying "Dig in, I taste gooooood!" :D

[Dialup Llama]

>Those Romano's Macaroni places are much better.

Buca, Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden are different price points for the same cusine.

[mn12]

If we can have ridiculous Italian stereotypes in commercials, any ethnicity should be fair game. I'd love to see a Taco Bell commercial depicting 30 Mexicans pulling up in a rusted-out pickup truck, or 300-pound white-trash at a McDonald's. Of course larda$$es and Mexicans are much more politically correct, so that would never happen..

[monkey]

If I took him to my local Olive Garden on Rockville Pike, he'd try to throw me out of the family!"

Any Washingtonians remember the G.D. Graffitti restaurant on Rockville Pike? Now, that was authentic.

[Remole]

Buca di Beppo: a phantasmagoric collection of framed photos and posters. That's the good part. The bad part is anything that they bring to your table to eat. The sauce is vinagery, the cheese is far too rich and plentiful, the pasta is overcooked. And the wine is just as bad as a OG. But the place is packed all the time. Go figure.

[nutmeg]

Believe me, if anyone ever ate truly authentic Irish food, they'd break the sound barrier driving to the nearest Olive Garden...

ROTFLMAO!

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Never been there---will try. Give "Lucca" (right on Hanover) a shot if you're looking for something new. Fantastic food, and the interior ambiance is incredible. The faux finishes on the walls are fantastic.

[Khurkris]

I have liked Buca de Beppo 2x's at 2 different places. A step up from Olive Garden...but still not classic trattoria grub. Oh...I'm not Italiano...but I eat a lot.

[Dialup Llama]

>Anyway, I'm a fan of the Americanization of ethnic foods. America is a culture too, and we have our own style.

The first time I went into a restaurant like that, I thought the pictures were real. It was like finding the real Cheers. Now I know what Cher felt like when she learned that Mt. Rushmore was not a natural phenomenon.

[lelio]

Pauly is looking at what I believe was a squid ink sauce pasta
Heh, that reminds of ordering some calamari at a more "authentic" restaurant. I'm guessing "authentic" means "stuff that you can't sell normally" as who in their right mind would order long squid bodies that were slightly roasted and not fried like normal?

[AnnaZ]

I did a part time bartending gig for the Olive Garden. They are nazi's. Their turnover rate for employment is the highest of any chain rest.

 

I knew someone who worked at one also. He said they had to sing a cheery song as a team every morning. EEK! 

[pabianice]

...sorry; I was distracted by your talking with your hands...

[Dialup Llama]

How did that happen?
try this instead...

>Buca di Beppo: a phantasmagoric collection of framed photos and posters

[stands2reason]

Mr. S2R's a restaurant manager...I remember years ago he ran a Pizza Hut and a large pepperoni pizza cost him about $1.00 to make. Spaghetti was pennies. Pizza was higher because of all the cheese.

[ErnBatavia]

No wonder I thought mess hall food was so good when I finally got to Marine boot camp.

Now, THAT is a sure sign of a deprived childhood; USMC slop chute food was the worse thing about my time "in" - only time I got good "grease" was twice; hospital and on a naval APA during wet net training.

[hellinahandcart]

Seven different varieties of fish.

Christmas Eve, right? we do that too. "Seven fishes for the seven sacraments".

We have shrimp, bacalao, clams, calamari, eels, pasta with lobster sauce, and baked stuffed lobsters (yes I know I said lobster twice; we like lobsters).

It takes an entire day to shop and prep, most of the next day to cook, and about five hours to eat. We run the dishwasher about six times before dessert.