jediyoshi
Member
That would be amazing, but it's not what the document was about. For all you know, that entire section could have been a paragraph.
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Olive Garden defends "breadstick policy"
- Thread starter maxcriden
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That would be amazing, but it's not what the document was about. For all you know, that entire section could have been a paragraph.
n64coder
Member
I guess I learned something today. I rarely followed the instructions to add salt to the boiling water for pasta. I try to reduce the amount of salt that I eat and that includes the meals that I make. I haven't noticed any issues with the sauce not sticking to the pasta but what do I know.
SlickShoesRUCrazy
Member
don't people take home their left over breadsticks? That's what I always do.
I think they used to but they've been cutting corners for a number of years. I haven't been one in probably 6 years though.
GoldenEye 007
Member
Same. I always put in one last order before I leave.
CeramicDragon
Banned
Doesn't OG microwave your food?
John Kowalski
Banned
Are these mini baguetes or something?
You aren't adding enough salt.
I know they aren't making their soup fresh on the premises. That shit comes out of plastic bags. I once had a lovely chunk of said plastic sitting in my soup. Got free drinks and desserts out of it.
Just a guess, but they're probably pre-cooking the pasta in bulk and portioning it out. Maybe a quick dip in some near-boiling water and drain again. I can't imagine them boiling all new pots of water for every order.
the_log_ride
Member
Love all the posts calling out that OG doesn't salt its pasta water. The reason they don't is hilarious, though.
If I recall correctly, the reason they don't salt the water is to get an extended warranty on their cooking pots.
If I recall correctly, the reason they don't salt the water is to get an extended warranty on their cooking pots.
CornBurrito
Member
I love how many people didn't bother reading the whole thing. It isn't a call to stop their unlimited breadsticks, but to stop them from bringing out so many at one time.
Yeah, the John Oliver piece on Olive Garden goes into detail about the warranty.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
I've been to Italy and they didn't seem particularly breadstick-generous
No... just, no.
Salted water has little to no impact on the outcome of the quality of pasta. I may change my mind if you can explain how salted water makes pasta inherently better than it already was.
Correct.
Olive Garden was legitimately good for a chain Italian establishment...ten years ago. Nothing mind blowing but they clearly used real fresh ingredients that were not bottom barrel.
Now their breadsticks taste exactly like the ones from my high school cafeteria. Not that that is a bad thing necessarily but its a far cry from how they used to be.
sonikokaruto
Banned
it is a great place.
Don't go alone tho.
They think you are on suicide watch. Lemme tell you what happened to me:
soniko gets to the entrance, greeted by a lady "how many?" -- "just one, thank you"
the lady looks at me in a way that perforated my soul in such a way that i felt like i've just been hollowed out with an ice cream scoop.
"oh i'm so sorry, follow me"
*confused
"if you need to talk with someone, i'm here, just tell me"
*even more confused
Actually, I have the opposite happen. I'm single and eat out by myself a lot. Most places, including Olive Garden, are really cool and the waiters often remember my favorite dishes, etc. It probably doesn't hurt that I'm never picky and forgiving if things screw up or are slow. I even had a waitress the other day say that she likes when I'm her table because "it's like having a bit of a break from the more needy customers". Heh.
You should have talked to her. It could have been the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
John Kowalski
Banned
aww that's cute
Doug Heffernan
Member
Breadstickgate 2014
That's why you go and sit at the bar and enjoy a nice convo with the bartender.
because the pasta absorbs the salt during the boiling process?
if you use the pasta water in the sauce, you have salted water in the sauce itself. more flavorful than just using regular water...
lol, he may as well just pour some tomato sauce on a slice of white bread and eat that. likes that bland tasteless pasta.
I would rather salt my own than have it be salty as fuck to start with.
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
Pasta dough is already salted. Same as any bread. I had unsalted pizza dough once and it was disgusting. You don't really notice it's there until it's gone.
iamaustrian
Member
My uncle, a cook, said that salted water helps making the noodles al dente by rising the water's boiling point. It also adds flavor.
Noodles cooked in unsalted water do NOT taste the same.
Regarding olive garden: meh. Bland and tasteless. I also hate the interior
Pasta dough is not salted. Salted noodles would absorb moisture and start to mold.
Noodles cooked in unsalted water do NOT taste the same.
Regarding olive garden: meh. Bland and tasteless. I also hate the interior
Pasta dough is not salted. Salted noodles would absorb moisture and start to mold.
I think this is only true if you add hundreds of grams of salt to a small amount of water?
Maybe we're just talking about why you salt your pasta water here, but if you are curious about what that report was all about...
http://www.salon.com/2014/09/17/the...ders_suddenly_care_so_much_about_breadsticks/
http://www.salon.com/2014/09/17/the...ders_suddenly_care_so_much_about_breadsticks/
Man, learned something new today.
BladeoftheImmortal
Member
Somewhere a European is laughing at you.
First of all pasta is not salted before cooking. Proper dry or fresh pasta has no salt. So you add salt to the water so the pasta absorbs it during the cooking process. It doesn't change any texture or anything else. It just adds flavor. You can add salt at the table, but it's not the same depth of salt. It's like salting a burger or steak after cooking it instead of right before it hits the grill.
I mean you can find some recipes for fresh pasta out there where they add salt, but those are bullshit recipes. Look at any recipe from a true master of pasta and you'll find no salt. Just eggs and flour.
As for the amount to add. It has to be salty like the sea.
I mean you can find some recipes for fresh pasta out there where they add salt, but those are bullshit recipes. Look at any recipe from a true master of pasta and you'll find no salt. Just eggs and flour.
As for the amount to add. It has to be salty like the sea.
ersocaster
Member
Their smoked mozzarella chicken pasta is amazing. I always save a breadstick or two to dip in the sauce.
I love their food, but on occasion they do not give you the same amount. Sometimes it is less, so it's always nice to have the salad and bread.
I love their food, but on occasion they do not give you the same amount. Sometimes it is less, so it's always nice to have the salad and bread.
When it is less does it approach what a normal human being should be eating or is it still a grotesque portion size that would feed a family of 4 in Europe?
ersocaster
Member
Check out Mam Nina in Bethlehem, PA if you think Olive Garden gives grotesque portions. It is delicious, but the portions are just ridiculous.
As some one who never was in the US:
unlimited Breadsticks
are literally the only thing I know about Olive Garden. Would be stupid to devalue their most beloved product.
/DEAD
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