“Olive Garden said it is remodeling 400 of its more than 730 locations in an effort to reinforce its Italian heritage with consumers”.
Excuse me, “Italian heritage?” from a stupid box store that claims “when you’re here you’re family!” Never mind that they have squatted their store on previously nice woodlands, and serve food prepared elsewhere and frozen for your consumption? Pave that parking lot…Good Grief..
But wait! There’s more: “Called “Via Tuscany,” the new interior and exterior look draws its inspiration from a Tuscan farmhouse, Olive Garden said in a press release, and will feature upgraded seating and window treatments in the dining rooms and bar areas. Outside touches include new front doors, Tuscan stones, a brick arch, freshly painted walls and newly planted Cypress trees”.
They’re such selfless folks. Gosh, I want to go there so I can pretend I’m in Tuscany. This may not be totally fair, but I would like to take a poll of diners some evening asking “Can you point to Tuscany on this world map?”
Those folks at Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52) are just trying to make us feel good. "Our brands are built on decades of learning from our guests. Their culinary inspirations come from the fishing villages of Maine, the family tables of Italy and the American West – icons that reflect the rich diversity of those who visit our restaurants”. What crap. Dine local.
And speaking of restaurants, most readers will remember that I have carried the torch to Dress For Dinner (DFD) for a long time. Well, guess what? The rest of the nation is waking up that things they are a’ changing. There’s an article in the Wall Street Journal last week called "Jacket (not) Required" lamenting the changing dress code at high end restaurants.
“the majority of the iconic old-school restaurants that once mandated jackets and ties for men have replaced "required" with "requested." At the iconic Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel—a second home to Hollywood's elite since 1912—the once strictly enforced dress code is now "no tank-tops after 10 p.m.”
They quote several restaurateurs citing that economics is driving them away from “jacket required”. People just don’t dress that way anymore.
They also quote the famous Tom Wolfe (always pictured in his white three piece suit) as saying: "The death of dressing accordingly isn't the end of civilization," said Mr. Wolfe, who is now 80 and universally identified by his white three-piece suits. "But it is the end of courage—men being afraid to be caught in fancy clothes, or even a jacket….., the benefits to formal dressing outweigh the negatives. "You'll look terrific, and miles above those slobs. And you'll get more respect. Formal dress really has social impact. You'll be treated with greater deference than the 45-year-old guy dressed like a rock drummer." Thanks Tom…
Or the general manager of the “21 Club”: “Mr. McGuire, now in his 23rd year at '21,' seems to lament the new leniency, and the inelegance of it all. People still care how a person is dressed to the left and to the right of them,"
I certainly do. You need to respect the food. At some places there are people in the back that work hard to present you a nicely arranged plate with good food. You should appreciate that effort and look respectable when you receive it. But I guess if you’re in your Tuscan Farmhouse, you can look like a farmer..
Openings:
Last Friday I braved the rain and cold and stuck my head in at the opening of “Twist”, the new liquor store located next to McDonalds on Millstone Landing Road. They’ve spruced the place up and had several tasting stations sprinkled around, and they even brought in Dexter Manely who apparently would sign an autograph for you if you had 20 bucks. Guess they got to make a living somehow. Twist has a fairly nice selection of craft beers, but at present the wines are restricted to more, um, “popular” brands.
The Sports Report:
Finally, I can’t let the weekend rest without mentioning the Masters golf tournament. What a display of intense competition with I think eight golfers in or part of the lead during the final round. Memories of the Greg Norman melt down were re-lived when young Rory McIlroy blew up on the last nine and soared to a round of 80. He’s such a darling kid, it was pretty painful to watch. He seems to have a marvelous outlook, I hope he can do it one day. Phil, who never had it, was off the course before the coverage began almost, and of course with Tiger resurgent, the media was in its usual frenzy. Despite his 31 on the front nine, the putter deserted him on the back, and he could only manage par. Adam Scott and Jason Day threatened, but it was a relatively unknown South African who birdied the final four holes who put on the green jacket. At least he won it, he didn’t back into it. Some say golf is cruel sport, and as you watched Tiger lip out 2 footers, or Rory playing from the front porch of Butler Cabin, who could argue. There's no place to hide...
so next year at the Champions Dinner, all will be in green
DFD
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