Kamil Perry
Olive Garden is known for its generous offering of freshly grated cheese on pasta, with servers invited to continue grating until you say stop. While many assume the cheese is Parmesan, it is, in fact, Romano or a blend of Romano and Parmesan. The cheese is sourced from Italy, with the specific variety being Lotito Romano Cheese, which is designed to fit in the restaurant's cheese graters. Olive Garden also offers other Italian cheeses like mozzarella, ricotta, and asiago.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese type | Romano, Parmesan, Parmigiano Reggiano, Mozzarella, Asiago, Ricotta, Pecorino Romano |
| Cheese origin | Italy |
| Cheese supplier | Lotito Foods |
| Cheese variety | Cow's milk, sheep's milk |
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What You'll Learn
Olive Garden uses Romano, not Parmesan
Olive Garden is known for its generous offering of freshly grated cheese on pasta, with servers inviting customers to let them know when to stop. While many assume this cheese is Parmesan, it is in fact Romano or a blend of the two.
This was revealed by Olive Garden employees on a 2022 Reddit thread, who claimed that the restaurant chain uses Romano, which is cheaper than Parmesan. The restaurant has also referred to the cheese as "grated Romano" on its Facebook and Twitter posts over the years. According to a 2016 interview with Chris Lotito, founder of Lotito Foods, his company supplies Olive Garden with Romano cheese blocks designed to fit in its cheese graters. Lotito Foods may still be the supplier, indicating that Romano is the primary cheese used.
Romano cheese has a strong, salty, and tangy flavor, often described as intense or robust. It is made from sheep's milk and is typically fattier and saltier than Parmesan. Parmesan, on the other hand, has a more nutty and fruity flavor with a hint of saltiness and is slightly milder in taste compared to Romano.
Olive Garden does offer other Italian cheeses on its menu, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, mozzarella, and ricotta. However, the restaurant is not transparent about which cheeses are sourced from Italy, and it only lists Parmesan as the cheese variety on its menu, not Parmigiano Reggiano, indicating that it may not be the authentic Italian cheese.
While some customers may feel betrayed by the revelation that Olive Garden uses Romano cheese, the restaurant has not engaged in false advertising. It has clearly disclosed the type of cheese it uses on multiple occasions on its social media accounts.
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Olive Garden's cheese is imported from Italy
It is true that Olive Garden imports some of its cheese from Italy. While the restaurant hasn't disclosed exactly which cheeses are imported, it offers a range of Italian cheeses on its menu, including Parmesan, Asiago, Mozzarella, Ricotta, and Pecorino Romano.
Parmesan, or Parmigiano Reggiano, is a type of Italian cheese that is known for its tangy sharpness. However, it has been speculated that the Parmesan used by Olive Garden is not authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, as the menu does not specify this particular variety. On the other hand, the specific variety of Pecorino Romano is listed on the menu, suggesting that it may be imported from Italy, as it can only be produced in certain regions of Italy. Additionally, the founder of Lotito Foods, Chris Lotito, has confirmed that his company supplies Olive Garden with blocks of Romano cheese designed to fit in their cheese graters.
Mozzarella, another Italian cheese, is featured in dishes like the Lasagna Classico at Olive Garden. Asiago, a creamy and rich Italian cheese, is also offered on the menu. While the restaurant has not confirmed the source of these cheeses, it is possible that they are among the varieties imported from Italy.
The use of imported Italian cheeses contributes to the authenticity of Olive Garden's dishes and enhances the dining experience for customers seeking traditional Italian flavors. While there may be some debate about the authenticity of certain ingredients, the restaurant has disclosed the types of cheese used on its social media accounts, providing transparency to its patrons.
In summary, Olive Garden does import cheese from Italy, and while the specific varieties may not always be disclosed, the restaurant offers a range of classic Italian cheeses that are sure to delight cheese aficionados and enthusiasts alike.
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Romano is cheaper than Parmesan
It is a well-known fact that Olive Garden uses a generous amount of cheese in its dishes. While it is easy to assume that the cheese used is Parmesan, it is actually Romano. This is because Romano is a cheaper alternative to Parmesan.
Romano is a hard cheese that is aged for a shorter duration than Parmesan, which is aged for at least a year and sometimes up to 36 months. The shorter aging period of Romano contributes to its lower cost. In terms of flavour, Romano is sharper and grassier, while Parmesan has a nuttier and sweeter taste. Parmesan's flavour is also more subtle and delicate. Romano, on the other hand, can stand up to other robust flavours in a dish, such as olives, chilli peppers, or capers.
When it comes to the milk source, Romano is made from cow's milk, while Parmesan can be made from either cow's milk or sheep's milk. The type of milk used also contributes to the difference in flavour between the two cheeses. Sheep's milk contains short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids, giving Parmesan a slightly gamey taste that is not present in Romano.
While some people may prefer the taste of Parmesan over Romano, the higher cost of Parmesan may be a deciding factor for restaurants like Olive Garden that aim to keep food costs down. Therefore, Romano being a cheaper alternative to Parmesan makes it a more economical choice for restaurants without compromising too much on flavour.
In conclusion, Romano cheese is a more affordable option than Parmesan due to its shorter aging period and the use of cow's milk, making it a popular choice for restaurants like Olive Garden that want to balance cost and flavour.
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Olive Garden's cheese is real Italian-style cheese
Olive Garden's cheese is, in fact, real Italian-style cheese. While the restaurant chain has never explicitly disclosed the type of cheese it uses, it has hinted that it is \"grated Romano". Romano cheese is an authentic Italian cheese, typically grated over pasta.
Olive Garden imports six different varieties of cheese from Italy, including classic Italian cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta. The restaurant is not entirely transparent about which cheeses are imported from Italy, but it does offer a range of Italian cheese options on its menu.
The cheese grated at the tables in Olive Garden is a topic of much discussion on social media. Many customers assume it to be Parmesan, but former employees have confirmed it to be Romano or a blend of Romano and Parmesan. Romano cheese is made from sheep's milk and has a strong, salty, and tangy flavor. It is often described as intense or robust.
Olive Garden's cheese supplier, Lotito Foods, provides the restaurant with Romano cheese blocks designed to fit in its cheese graters. The founder of Lotito Foods, Chris Lotito, confirmed in an interview that his company supplies the cheese to Olive Garden.
While the exact type of cheese used may vary, it is clear that Olive Garden's cheese is indeed real Italian-style cheese, sourced from Italy and enjoyed by customers seeking an authentic Italian dining experience.
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Customers can request as much cheese as they like
While Olive Garden does not specify the type of cheese used on its menu or website, it has been revealed by employees that the restaurant uses Romano cheese, or a blend of Romano and Parmesan. This information has also been confirmed by the founder of Lotito Foods, the company that supplies the cheese blocks to Olive Garden. Romano cheese is cheaper than Parmesan, which may explain why Olive Garden is so generous with its servings.
The use of Romano cheese instead of Parmesan has been a topic of discussion on social media, with some customers expressing feelings of betrayal. However, Olive Garden has not been guilty of false advertising, as it has referred to the cheese as ""grated Romano" on its Facebook and Twitter posts.
The debate around the authenticity of Olive Garden's cheese is an interesting one, especially considering that the restaurant sources some of its cheeses from Italy. While the specific varieties are not disclosed, it is known that they offer Italian classics like mozzarella, ricotta, and pecorino Romano, which is made from sheep's milk.
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Frequently asked questions
Olive Garden uses a blend of Parmesan and Romano cheese, although some sources claim that only Romano cheese is used.
Yes, Olive Garden sources some of its cheeses from Italy, although it is not transparent about which ones. The menu offers a range of options, including Parmesan, Asiago, Mozzarella, and Ricotta.
Yes, Olive Garden's Never Ending Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks promotion allows customers to enjoy unlimited refills of cheese during their meal.
There is no official guideline, but a former server shared that they would continue grating until the cheese grater was empty. Another former employee mentioned that they would offer to get more cheese if they finished a block.
