Shocking Olive Garden incident concerning the future in-laws

Okay, they're at the mall and decide to get something to eat, ND GO TO OLIVE GARDEN BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT THERE!!! THey live in North Jersey, okay? I've eaten at some of the yummo local places. BUT THEY GO TO OLIVE GARDEN.

This was related to me via phone by Haruka, who was so shocked she could barely talk.

But it gets worse.

They asked her if she wanted to meet them for dinner.

:scared:

This is what I was told happened:

Haruka's Mom: Hey, so we're all going out to dinner tonight? Want to come?
Haruka: Where?
Haruka's Mom: I feel like having Italian, so we're stopping by the Olive Garden.
Haruka: I thought you said you wanted Italian.
Haruka's Mom: Olive Garden is Italian.
Haruka: No, it's not.

I'm afraid the future MIL may want the wedding catered by the OG since they're paying for it.

I may have to call off the wedding.

:cry:

Olive Garden IS Italian. They have an Eyetalian guy in their commercial so they MUST be Italian.

They prefer breadcrumbs or Shake 'N Bake.

My friends said it was 'good.' I guess 'good' means 'overpriced slimy crap' in their language. Yes. SLIMY.

1.) It was $3.95 a plate, and
2.) Didn't say it was Eye-talian

I'm half Sicilian. It pains me.

1.) $3.95? :rofl: More like $13.95!! But you're right, it's about that kind of quality.
2.) Didn't you hear? The Italians invented slimy noodles slopped with ketchup.

No self-respecting Italian has need of ever setting foot in an Olive Garden. That's like an Irishman ordering a Black-and-Tan.
When you're here, you're family!

It's a Half-and-Half for me!

But you're half-Sicilian and half-Irish? Does that mean you hate yourself? ;)

And cry when I see a sad movie.

;)

and I love Gin. My other half is British. I look down on myself a lot.

I'm also an Irish Protestant in a largely Irish Catholic family.
That is also lots of fun.

See, you can be an atheist, but as long as you were confirmed, your family still considers you Catholic, and will treat you like "one of them." But, if you become a PROTESTANT?!

OMG.

Poor thing.

:hug:

... just have the limo driver pull through White Castle, get a bag of sliders!
:rofl:

:)

I make a great villain.

:D

We're having penne with REAL marinara (probably) for you and the other vegan freaks.

:rofl:

nice pic the other day...

:hi:

Thanks re: the photo!

If you love haruka, you're going to have to be nice and eat your pre-fab lasagne without complaint.

My MIL serves boxed wine when she has guests. At Thanksgiving the wine was SOUR. I'd trade you MILs any day of the week.

edited for clarity

I can personally confirm that OG is not Italian food.

What kind of food did you eat regularly?

The pizza is only one size, and the won't slice it for you (they consider it tampering with the product). The only crust available is thin crust; it's thinner than anything you'll see at Pizza Hut/Papa John's/Domino's/grocery store. Very little cheese and sauce are used; this combined with a very thin crust keeps calories way down.

The spicy spaghetti is mixed with olive oil that has absorbed the heat from red peppers. I also like it with a meat sauce (otherwise it won't come with it).

Pizza toppings can be surprising. Mushrooms are very popular, so are brussel(sp.?) sprouts. What we call pepperoni the Italians call hot salami. To them, the word pepperoni is what we'd call bell peppers. The strangest topping I've ever seen is tuna fish. Personally the smell of it makes me want to throw up...can you imagine the stench after its been in the oven cooking? Fortunately it's very rare anyone orders it. I've also seen kernels of corn used, and also hot dogs. I was curious about having a sliced hot dog on pizza, and now I'm hooked.

If you're still interested I'll tell you about desserts.

:rofl:

I never understood why people flipped out at what other people think of the places they eat.
Duckie

But still...
:shrug:
I never got it. I worked for them, and they aren't a bad company to work for, as long as you realize you are working for tips. And pretty much only for tips.
Duckie

i lasted for 6 months in an OG kitchen, and i have NEVER cussed that much in concentrated doses in my life!!!

I lasted less than a few moths between jobs before I could not stand it any more. One of the final straws - besides it just being a crappy place to work that charges you for your meals (?!?) - was when I got sick and started puking and they tried more than once to get me to finish my shift.

Keep in mind that I grew up cooking and worked in the kitchen of a Northern Italian restaurant that made everything from scratch (which is why I became a vegetarian as well....) and spoiled me. Now I can't even think of eating most crappy "Eye-talian" food unless it's cheap enough for me to not care, and sometimes not even then. On the other hand, I know how to make all that stuff and would rather cook at home.

Well, some of them. I remember one of the cooks thought he ran the joint, basically because they let him think it. He was an asshole who we fought with at every turn. I understand why you curse. But then again, people in the kitchens back in the day when I worked there were paid ok.
Duckie

lots of cyber "tough guys" ganged up on Radio Lady when she mentioned she and her husband had enjoyed lunch at the O.G. in Times Square.

Of course, the IRONY is that R.L. is not only a true broadcast pioneer,but,she and her Mister have literally traveled he globe together.

Thus endeth this Re-Tale.:silly:

Someone took a trip to New York City, and then recommended the Olive Garden.
Now, that's funny!

I remember the whole thing.

Yes?!?!? :scared:

If it's not a joke, I think you may have to summon the collective forces of the Lounge for a cyber-intervention of some sort!

We have a very nice local caterer. Haruka and I are just arguing over which hors d'oeuvres to have.

:D

:cry:

:hide:

:cry:

I can't afford food. :P

Whats wrong with free bread sticks????? :rofl: :bounce:

This topic needs a rest desperately...:mad: :argh:

:eyes:

:cry: :cry: :cry:

It was made with -- you're not going to believe this -- dried basil! They are not an Italian restaurant any more than Beatlemania was The Beatles.