[MKat]

Fogive me for posting something else so soon, but I'm finally looking into eating out gluten-free here in Ohio and saw that Olive Garden now has a gluten-free penne Pasta available. Has this been discussed before? Is it any good...and is it safe?? I've heard scary things about eating gluten-free at Olive Garden

[mushroom]

Well, at least Olive Garden is the first Italian style restaurant i have heard of, touting a gluten free menu, that actually realizes that it is possible to serve gluten free pasta. That is a big leap forward. Now, if they have worked out their cc issues, this could be a GOOD thing. I would certainly go talk to them about how they prepare it.

[momxyz]

my take on this is that restaurants in general are starting to smell the coffee, so to speak.

There's a local pizza place - not a chain - that had a very bold advertisement for gluten free pizza. This is the second pizza joint within 4 miles of my house that now offer gluten free pizza. We haven't tried either yet - we've been making our own at home - but this will certainly help around the holiays, for family gatherings where we have traditionally done take out.

About Olive Garden. I think the official Olive Garden cooking school is in Italy. From what I have read, the Europeans are way ahead of us in terms of awareness of gluten sensitivity. And that includes Italy! I think I read that in Italy, screening via blood tests is the norm for kids. I have read posts on this board, from travelers who have found that gluten free pasta is readily available in restaurants in Italy. So it makes sense - and smart marketing sense - that Olive Garden is now translating this knowledge and awareness into the US market.

[captaincrab55]

MKat, on Oct 25 2009, 06:55 PM, said:

Fogive me for posting something else so soon, but I'm finally looking into eating out gluten-free here in Ohio and saw that Olive Garden now has a gluten-free penne Pasta available. Has this been discussed before? Is it any good...and is it safe?? I've heard scary things about eating gluten-free at Olive Garden

Here's another choice; http://www.carrabbas...abbas-menu.aspx

Gluten-Free Menu
Carrabba's Italian Grill, in cooperation with the Gluten Intolerance Group®, is now providing a Gluten-Free menu. Click here to download.

[nb-canada]

MKat, on Oct 25 2009, 07:55 PM, said:

Fogive me for posting something else so soon, but I'm finally looking into eating out gluten-free here in Ohio and saw that Olive Garden now has a gluten-free penne Pasta available. Has this been discussed before? Is it any good...and is it safe?? I've heard scary things about eating gluten-free at Olive Garden

Hi captaincrab55

I tried the pasta at Olive Garden in Bangor Maine a couple of weeks ago and it was delicious. I did not get cc'd. The waitress was also Celiac as well as another employee so they were well informed about Celiac.

[Juliebove]

I have not tried them but have had the gluten-free pasta at the Old Spaghetti Factory. It's good.

[lovegrov]

Does OG talk about having gluten-free pasta anywhere on their website? I couldn't find it.

richard

[janetw]

There is one tiny mention of it here:

https://www.olivegarden.com/menus/garden_fa...lternatives.asp

Pennine Rigate with Marinara
Marinara sauce made with a blend of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and Italian herbs. Served over gluten free penne pasta.

[Juliebove]

lovegrov, on Oct 28 2009, 11:38 AM, said:

Does OG talk about having gluten-free pasta anywhere on their website? I couldn't find it.

richard

It is on the website but I can't remember where I found it. I do remember having trouble finding it though.

[Lisa]

I have seen this with my own eyes! Military Circle Olive Garden, Norfolk, Virginia

On the Gluten Free Menu:

Penne Rigate with Marinara
Marinara sauce made with a blend of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and Italian herbs. Served over gluten free penne pasta

It was rather bla tasting to me and I grabbed the red pepper flakes, but it's a super option for those who work and have lunch meetings. Can't complain! Their staff still needs educating on gluten free dining.

Olive Garden has been subject to my criticism in the past, but I am pleased with this progress.

[Shess0816]

MKat, on Oct 25 2009, 03:55 PM, said:

Fogive me for posting something else so soon, but I'm finally looking into eating out gluten-free here in Ohio and saw that Olive Garden now has a gluten-free penne Pasta available. Has this been discussed before? Is it any good...and is it safe?? I've heard scary things about eating gluten-free at Olive Garden

The other italian type place, too, that offers gluten free pasta is Biaggis. I have had it several times and it is AWESOME!!! The waitstaff has always been super informed there and I have never had any CC issues. Quite a few of their sauces can be put on top of the gluten free pasta, so there are several choices! The gluten free pasta is actually green, too, so you can tell for sure when they bring you your plate if they brought gluten free pasta or not!

I think Biaggi's has locations in Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Mississippi, New York, and North Carolina. If you have one close to you, it's definitely worth a try!! They just have a great gluten free menu in general!

Here's the link if you want to see the menu:

http://www.biaggis.c..._glutenfree.pdf

[abbysmom]

I have a friend that works at Olive Garden and he said that the meals are frozen, they zap them in the microwave and they have strict instructions to use fresh utensils, etc., so that no cross-contamination occurs. I have eaten it 3 times with no stomach issues, but I did have a waitress look at me like I had 2 heads when I said I needed the gluten-free menu. I remembered it being under garden fare on the website. That made more sense to her, she brought me the garden fare menu and I could point it out and show her what I meant. It isn't that tasty (especially when my husband has regular pasta with marinara and it smells amazing!), but it is nice to have another resturant option to eat at.

[jerseyangel]

abbysmom, on Nov 20 2009, 06:39 PM, said:

I have a friend that works at Olive Garden and he said that the meals are frozen, they zap them in the microwave and they have strict instructions to use fresh utensils, etc., so that no cross-contamination occurs.

That's very good to know! Thanks for sharing that

[celiac-mommy]

abbysmom, on Nov 20 2009, 03:39 PM, said:

I have a friend that works at Olive Garden and he said that the meals are frozen, they zap them in the microwave and they have strict instructions to use fresh utensils, etc., so that no cross-contamination occurs. I have eaten it 3 times with no stomach issues, but I did have a waitress look at me like I had 2 heads when I said I needed the gluten-free menu. I remembered it being under garden fare on the website. That made more sense to her, she brought me the garden fare menu and I could point it out and show her what I meant. It isn't that tasty (especially when my husband has regular pasta with marinara and it smells amazing!), but it is nice to have another resturant option to eat at.

That's what they told me when I took my son there. It actually comes prepackaged with its own silverware so there is no risk of cc. It tasted good, better than OSF, but I have to complain that it was 12$ for 1 bowl of pasta--for a 4y/o. But on the other hand, it was nice to have the option for him

[sixtytwo]

Had the gluten-free pasta at OG and I agree, it is a bit blah, but surely a step in the right direction. I eat the salad, asking for the croutons to be on the side and do fine. I have to admit that the pasta was a little dry so I asked for some of their regular red sauce and that was fine too. As far as CC goes at OG, this product comes prepackaged so I imainge they just microwave it and slip it on a clean plate. Biaggi's is a wonderful restaurant, and they have a huge gluten-free menu. Their gluten-free pasta is green/spinach and so nice, and much better than what OG offers at this time. NOW if only they could come up with some interesting gluten-free bread with these Italian dinners, we would really be happy, right?

Barbara