Patrick Oconnell
Olive Garden is a popular restaurant chain known for its Italian-style cuisine and generous offerings of grated cheese. While many assume that the cheese grated at Olive Garden is Parmesan, there has been much speculation and curiosity among customers regarding the true type of cheese used. In this paragraph, we will delve into the question What grated cheese does Olive Garden use? and explore the responses and insights shared by employees and diners alike.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Romano, or a blend of Romano and Parmesan |
| Cheese Supplier | Lotito Foods |
| Cheese Grater Supplier | Zyliss |
| Cheese Grater Price | $14.99-16.43 |
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What You'll Learn
Olive Garden uses a blend of Parmesan and Romano cheese
It is a common misconception that Olive Garden uses Parmesan cheese. In reality, the restaurant uses a blend of Parmesan and Romano cheese. This was revealed by multiple self-identified Olive Garden employees in a 2022 Reddit thread.
Romano cheese is made from sheep's milk, while Parmesan is derived from cow's milk. Romano tends to be stronger in flavor and saltier, but both are commonly used to top pasta dishes. The use of Romano cheese instead of Parmesan makes economic sense as well, as Romano is much cheaper.
Olive Garden does not specify the type of grated cheese it uses on its menu or website. However, the restaurant has disclosed the type of cheese it uses on its social media accounts, referring to it as "grated Romano" on Facebook and Twitter posts. Additionally, the founder of Lotito Foods, Chris Lotito, shared in a 2016 interview that his company supplies Olive Garden with Romano cheese blocks designed to fit in its cheese graters.
While the cheese provided in takeout orders is labelled as coming from a different supplier, Sugar Foods Corporation, it is still Romano cheese.
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The cheese is grated at the table
In fact, it seems that Olive Garden uses a blend of both Parmesan and Romano cheese, with the latter being the dominant variety. Romano cheese is made from sheep's milk, while Parmesan is derived from cow's milk. Romano tends to be stronger in flavour and saltier, but both are popular choices for pasta dishes. The cheese is liberally sprinkled over the diner's dish, and the servers are trained to give customers as much as they ask for.
The iconic cheese grater used by Olive Garden is also available for purchase at some locations, and it has become a viral sensation on TikTok. The grater is a mechanical contraption that resembles a small Salad Shooter crossed with a hand-cranked pencil sharpener. It can quickly turn a block of cheese into a deluge of grated cheese in seconds. The grater is priced at around \$15, and some locations offer a block of cheese along with the purchase.
Olive Garden also provides packets of grated Romano cheese with their takeout orders, allowing customers to add extra cheese to their takeout items.
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Customers can buy the cheese grater
Customers can buy the iconic Olive Garden cheese grater from select locations. The grater is available for purchase at the restaurant or by reaching out to a manager. The price of the grater varies across locations, with a restaurant in NYC's Times Square selling it for $16.43, while an Orlando location near the company's headquarters charges $14.99. Customers may even be given a block of cheese to go with their grater, depending on availability.
The Olive Garden cheese grater is a mechanical contraption that can turn a block of Parmesan cheese into a deluge of grated cheese in seconds. It looks like a small salad shooter crossed with a hand-cranked pencil sharpener.
The exact brand of the grater used by Olive Garden is not known, but a TikTok user identified it as a Zyliss grater. According to a 2016 interview with Chris Lotito, the founder of Lotito Foods, his company supplies Olive Garden with Romano cheese blocks that are specifically designed to fit in its cheese graters.
In addition to the cheese grater, Olive Garden also sells other select items from the restaurant, including salad dressing, Italian seasoning blend, wine glasses, coffee cups, creamer urns, drink syrups, sangria mix, sugar caddies, and more.
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Romano cheese is made from sheep's milk
The grated cheese used by Olive Garden is Romano cheese, which is indeed made from sheep's milk. This variety of cheese, known as Pecorino Romano, is a hard and salty Italian cheese often used for grating over pasta or other dishes. The name "Pecorino" in Italian means "ovine" or "of sheep", indicating its origin from sheep's milk.
Romano cheese made from sheep's milk has a rich snow-white colour, a slightly granular texture, and a sharp, tangy, and salty flavour. It is known for its strong peppery notes and spicy character, which can be attributed to the traditional use of a special rennet paste derived from lamb milk. This paste contains natural rennet and the enzyme lipase, which breaks down fat and contributes to the intense flavour of the cheese.
While Romano cheese is traditionally made with sheep's milk, it can also be produced with cow, goat, or a combination of different types of milk. In the United States, for example, most Romano cheese is made from cow's milk to cater to the preference for milder-tasting cheese. When cow's milk is used, the colour of the cheese takes on a creamy yellow hue from the natural coloration of the milk.
The process of making Romano cheese involves several steps, including curd formation, draining and pressing, soaking in brine, rubbing with salt, washing, and dry-curing. The cheese must be aged for at least five months, with longer ageing contributing to a stronger peppery flavour.
In summary, Romano cheese, specifically Pecorino Romano made from sheep's milk, is the grated cheese used by Olive Garden. This cheese is characterised by its white colour, granular texture, and sharp, salty, and peppery flavour. While sheep's milk is traditional, Romano cheese can also be made with other types of milk, depending on regional preferences and production methods.
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Parmesan is made from cow's milk
It is a common misconception that Olive Garden uses Parmesan cheese. While the cheese they use is similar to Parmesan, it is actually Romano cheese, a sheep's milk cheese that is comparable to Parmesan, which is made from cow's milk. Parmesan and Romano cheese are both aged Italian cheeses that are typically grated over pasta. However, they differ slightly in taste. Romano can be made with sheep's milk, which makes it fattier and saltier than Parmesan.
Olive Garden uses blocks of Romano cheese that are specifically designed to fit in its cheese graters. This change was made after employees struggled to cut up the 50-pound Romano cheese wheels that were previously used. The company has been transparent about the type of cheese it uses, referring to it as ""grated Romano" on its social media accounts.
While the cheese Olive Garden uses may not be Parmesan, it is still a delicious and popular choice for adding to pasta dishes. In fact, Romano cheese is a cheaper alternative to Parmesan, which may be why Olive Garden uses it. The company is also generous with its cheese servings, allowing customers to have as much as they like, even if it means using up several blocks at a time.
When ordering takeout from Olive Garden, customers receive packets of grated Romano cheese. This cheese comes from a different supplier, Sugar Foods Corporation, and is made from cow's milk. So, while the cheese used in-restaurant may not be made from cow's milk, the cheese in the takeout packets is.
So, while Olive Garden may not use Parmesan cheese, which is made from cow's milk, the cheese they do use, Romano, is a similar and tasty alternative.
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Frequently asked questions
Olive Garden uses a blend of Parmesan and Romano cheese. Romano cheese is made from sheep's milk and has a stronger flavor and saltier taste than Parmesan, which is derived from cow's milk.
Yes, you can buy the iconic Olive Garden cheese grater and a block of cheese to go with it, though availability may vary across locations.
Aside from the cheese grater, Olive Garden also sells select items such as salad dressing, Italian seasoning blend, wine glasses, coffee cups, creamer urns, drink syrups, sangria mix, and sugar caddies.
