-People who cannot fit into booth tables
- Bottles of wine E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E
- 90 minute wait for a table every Friday and Saturday
- Toxic levels of sodium in almost every dish
- Meals that have more calories than what I am supposed to eat in a day
- Unlimited soup, salad, and bread sticks.
You can find them in Tuscany! Oh wait...I mean the Olive Garden. As someone who prides myself on loving real food that is authentic, gourmet, hand crafted...I am sorry to say I spent the last little while of my life working as an Olive Garden slave/server/bartender. (HEY! I also had my "real" job as a residential counselor in a psych home so dont make fun yet...)
The OG is far from Italian food (in my onion ladies and gents), but some of their dishes are based on some real stuff found in Italia. One of the favorite soups that customers love to eat multiple bowls of just because they're unlimited is the Zuppa Toscana. When they eat 2 or 3 bowls before their meal, they have already eaten about 500- 600 calories not including all the bread sticks that get dunked in the soup amongst the process. I have always been intrigued by this soup, but since I refuse to eat most of the food that comes out of the restaurant, I made a "copy cat" recipe of this soup with a much healthier mindset.
Claire's Zuppe Toscana
1 pound Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage
1 Qt. water
4 Cups chicken broth (Reduced Sodium!!)
1 - 2 large russet potatoes, sliced in thin circles
3 garlic cloves, sliced
1 large white onion
2 C chopped Kale
3/4 C half and half
bacon bits
1.Brown the sausage in the skillet, and set aside.
2. Simmer the water, broth, potatoes, garlic, and onion until all tender
3. Add sausage to pot and simmer on low for 10 minutes
4. Add Kale and half and half
5. Top with bacon bits and serve. Top with crushed red pepper if you like.
So here is a healthier version of a dish at the Olive Garden. I will be working there for 10 more days. I cannot wait.
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