After she reviewed the Olive Garden in Grand Forks, ND, Anthony Bourdain stepped in to defend her from the snark and later published her 2013 book "Grand Forks: A History of American Dining in 128 Reviews.
Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/1903784/anthony-bourdain-olive-garden-columnist/
by snixon67
32 Comments
It was so sad to me when everyone made fun of her.
It was a really nice and genuine review.
I never knew Bourdain defended her but that makes me feel a little better.
Rest easy, Marilyn. Living to see 99 is an incredible feat. I’ll never forget her review and how innocuous it was, but people were so cruel.
Found the book in a thrift a couple years back. It’s delightfully fun to read
RIP
I’ve wondered a few times over the last few years, if she was still alive, but forgot to look her up, after she’d stopped writing the column during covid.
I always *loved* how Tony recognized and then *rectified* the mistake he’d made, in blowing her off at first.
And the book, and the many times he stepped up *defending* Marilyn in tge years after, were awesome!💖
Miss you, Tony. Thank you for being decent.
She reviewed a place I worked at. You probably could have shit on this woman’s plate right in front of her, and she would have given you a good review.
Not sure if I’d say she was much of a critic, but she was a wonderful person and a beloved member of the community.
Sincerity is a commodity in our cynical world. RIP Marilyn.
Aw. May her bread sticks be never ending. 🖤
Anthony Bourdain on Marilyn Hagerty:
His original tweet (before Twitter was X — I don’t see a social media prohibition in the rules, so I’m including it): “[Very much enjoying watching Internet sensation Marilyn Hagerty triumph over the snarkologists (myself included](https://x.com/Bourdain/status/177858631423893504)).”
Anthony Bourdain’s [introduction to Hagerty’s book](https://sample-6e69fa1cdff2f3358e5f1a57354004e5.read.overdrive.com/?d=eyJvdXRsZXQiOiJyZWFkIiwidG9rZW4iOiI5MzMyMjU2Ni0zYjhlLTQ4MTUtYWRhZC0zMWZmM2YwNDE4ZDIiLCJhY2Nlc3MiOiJzIiwiZXhwaXJlcyI6InNlc3Npb24iLCJ0aGVtZSI6InNhbXBsZSIsInN5bmMiOjAsInBwYXJhbSI6Il9leUp6YkhWbklqb2laM0poYm1RdFptOXlhM01pTENKbWIzSnRZWFFpT2lJMk1UQWlmUT09IiwidGRhdGEiOnsiQ1JJRCI6IjQzZWIzZjc0LTc5NWEtNGM5YS1hYzYwLWE5NzhhZGVjNWZkMiIsInNsdWciOiJncmFuZC1mb3JrcyIsImZvcm1hdCI6IjYxMCJ9LCJ0aW1lIjoxNzU4MTQ2Mjk2LCJidWlkIjoiNmU2OWZhMWNkZmYyZjMzNThlNWYxYTU3MzU0MDA0ZTUiLCJfYyI6IjE3NTgxNDYyOTYyNzkifQ%3D%3D–9f783a6f106442a639174eb15b0096f3938ecbe2&p=_eyJzbHVnIjoiZ3JhbmQtZm9ya3MiLCJmb3JtYXQiOiI2MTAifQ%3D%3D) (which he facilitated).
Here’s the review for those who are wondering:
*After a lengthy wait for Olive Garden to open in Grand Forks, the lines were long in February. The novelty is slowly wearing off, but the steady following attests the warm welcome.*
*My first visit to Olive Garden was during midafternoon, so I could be sure to get in. After a late breakfast, I figured a late lunch would be fashionable.*
*The place is impressive. It’s fashioned in Tuscan farmhouse style with a welcoming entryway. There is seating for those who are waiting.*
*My booth was near the kitchen, and I watched the waiters in white shirts, ties, black trousers and aprons adorned with gold-colored towels. They were busy at midday, punching in orders and carrying out bread and pasta.*
*It had been a few years since I ate at the older Olive Garden in Fargo, so I studied the two manageable menus offering appetizers, soups and salads, grilled sandwiches, pizza, classic dishes, chicken and seafood and filled pastas.*
*At length, I asked my server what she would recommend. She suggested chicken Alfredo, and I went with that. Instead of the raspberry lemonade she suggested, I drank water.*
*She first brought me the familiar Olive Garden salad bowl with crisp greens, peppers, onion rings and yes — several black olives. Along with it came a plate with two long, warm breadsticks.*
*The chicken Alfredo ($10.95) was warm and comforting on a cold day. The portion was generous. My server was ready with Parmesan cheese.*
*As I ate, I noticed the vases and planters with permanent flower displays on the ledges. There are several dining areas with arched doorways. And there is a fireplace that adds warmth to the decor.*
*Olive Garden has an attractive bar area to the right of the entryway. The restaurant has a full liquor license and a wine list offering a wide selection to complement Italian meals. Nonalcoholic beverages include coolers, specialty coffees and hot teas.*
*On a hot summer day, I will try the raspberry lemonade that was recommended.*
*There’s a homemade soup, salad and breadstick lunch available until 4 p.m. daily for $6.95.*
*An olive branch on menu items signified low-fat entrees. There is a Garden Fare Nutrition Guide available for customers seeking gluten-free food. And for those with food allergies, Olive Garden has an Allergen Information Guide.*
*All in all, it is the largest and most beautiful restaurant now operating in Grand Forks. It attracts visitors from out of town as well as people who live here.*
*Olive Garden is part of the Darden chain of restaurants that also operates Red Lobster. There are about 700 restaurants, including four Olive Gardens in North Dakota’s major cities.*
*Olive Garden has gained a following since 1982 with its ample portions and relaxed ambience. It’s known for its classic lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo and chicken Parmigiana.*
I was appalled when I moved to Austin and my friends said they knew a great Italian place that turned out to be Olive Garden. By the time I moved out of their place, I’d introduced them to poulet à la Niçoise, and one of them even admitted he’d been wrong to insist on a boneless, skinless chicken breast for his.
But nobody should have made fun of this lady. She knew what she liked, and that’s always legit. I myself sometimes indulge in Spaghetti-Os. It’s comfort food for a rough day. I can also throw together a mean Genovese or biryani, but sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants.
Food is love.
Am I wrong. Didn’t he bring her as a guest judge for a Top Chef quick fire?
Why do people hate on OG? It’s pretty decent. Pasta isn’t that complicated and most local owned Italian restaurants are not going the extra mile, they just pretend to be. Without homemade sauce and noodles there is no difference to Olive Garden. Same with Panda Express; it is usually better than the dry General Tso’s seagull most cheap places are peddling
“North dakota’s *major cities*”🤣
Aw bless.
My husband and I lived in Grand Forks from 2004-2007ish and always said an Olive Garden there would be hoppin’. I remember when Marilyn’s review first went viral and we were both like, SO THEY FINALLY PUT AN OLIVE GARDEN IN.
RIP Marilyn.
There was a news segment with her giving advice on how to get to the airport on time for an early flight. She said to sleep on the couch (She used the word ‘davenport’ ) in the outfit you planned to wear the next day so you could just roll off, brush your teeth and go. RIP Marilyn.
I used to work with her son! He is lovely
This is so fucking adorable it made me cry. Fuck, I miss this guy so much.
Ate here a few weeks ago. Was fine, not the finest restaurant in GF anymore but decent for the price. No complaints and hats off to their light menu choices
I remember being so mad at all the snark!
The review brought me back to my no-budget college days in a very small college town in the middle of nowhere.
We had a few really good local mom & pop restaurants but they weren’t something we could splurge on very often. And, being college students, we had bottomless stomachs.
When an Olive Garden moved into town, we were ecstatic. Going there felt like such a luxury treat. Sure the atmosphere was theme park-ish but we eagerly bought into it. The portions were amazing for the price (especially with the breadsticks, of course) and the food felt genuinely upscale compared to campus dining hall food or Taco Bell bean burritos.
I remember even feeling a bit out of place, like everyone would notice what a piece of riff-raff I really was.
Places like Olive Garden can be godsends in towns and circumstances like that. Which is not to say I would ever be in favor of them driving out local businesses! But at least in our little town in the middle of nowhere, there was room for both
I remember when this happened and I felt so badly for her. Being from Winnipeg, a trip to Grand Forks was a treat. We definitely went to Olive Garden, too. I hate food snobs.
Y’all making me tear up
Great story. Great woman!
For small American towns, having a popular chain restaurant open was (and for some probably still is) an exciting thing. It is almost like a signifier that you have been noticed nationally in some way because a big chain has decided there is enough business to open up there. This was decades ago, but I remember when Applebee’s opened in my town and was packed every night. It was the first “newer” restaurant chain (outside of Denny’s etc) to open here and people were enamored with the place. As more and more of the same type opened it meant less and less.
Reading her review made me think of that time and what it meant to the town and it was a very honest take. I feel Bourdain was right to defend her and I imagine it was because he recognized that. Much of what he did was bringing attention to what the fast paced wealthy world had been ignoring and she did the same in her own very local way. I’m probably completely wrong, but it’s just the way I see it. It makes me glad to know she got some recognition for her work.
I like that she didn’t get talked into getting anything but water. She knew exactly why she was there. I love people who know what they want. Stand firm!
Rip 🙏
Damn, she gave Al Neuharth (founder of USA Today) his first newspaper job!
Her book was such a fun and interesting read.
I admit, I enjoy chicken fettuccini from OG. It’s not authentic, and it’s not high class or anything like that. It tastes good to me, and that’s all I care about.