And the best deep-dish in the Chicago area is Pequod in Morton Grove
https://pequodspizza.com/morton-grove/
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You do now. The word “old” in “Old Spaghetti Factory” is inherently funny*, setting you up for the ironic observation.
(* “This tastes funny” funny, not “This is comical amusement” funny.)
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Because “ephemeral coitus” sounds too … too … clinical? (And who wants to think about a clinic while pursuing casual sex?)
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Beer choices are very regional in Aussie (more so than in most countries, IMHO) - so in SA, you’d drink Coopers (rolled on the bar first), in Victoria, VB or Carlton, Boags or Cascade in Tassie, XXXX in Queensland, and Tooheys or VB in NSW. Can’t speak for WA or NT as I haven’t been there. I’ve been to ACT many times, but I’m blanking on what beer is there - I was probably drinking whisky to offset the general malaise of the place.
There are an increasing number of good microbreweries around, though, which don’t require the beer to be served at 0.1C to be palatable. To my taste, Coopers is the best of the brands I listed, but beer taste is a very personal thing.
Now - how about an article on the difference between schooners, pots, etc. and how to order a beer like a local in Australia?
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“I take all my hookups to Olive Garden”
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is the name of my Cocteau Twins cover band.
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Ahh, the Cocteau Twins … hold on … just a moment … I feel an anagram coming on … okay, here we go:
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I see it but my brain is having a hard time accepting the mapping. Cool.
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I realized haven’t been to a Denny’s since I gave up drinking. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
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I went to Olive Garden for dinner on my own this past Saturday (I was mad at my husband and craving fettuccine alfredo of sadness, don’t judge me) and they gave me, alone at my table, FOUR breadsticks. Not sure if the author and her dates are being stiffed on the carbs, or if I truly looked so pathetic that the bread gods blessed me extra.
… I ate all four.
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You deserved all the breadsticks you wanted. Was the pasta good? 
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Back when I had to go visit my now ex-wife’s family. Olive Garden was the better choice for what was available. I might be having false memories but I recall I could just ask for more bread sticks and they would bring them at no cost. Pretty sure I angry ate bread sticks to over capacity before the meal arrived more than once.
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But to be fair, it’s not sold as a single person entre. It’s an appetizer meant for 4 minimum, in my estimation. If I split one with my wife, we’d not be able to finish our meat & two veg. And we’re both overweight, probably even clinically obese.
I don’t get the hate on for Outback, Olive Garden and the like. They are what they are. I’ve enjoyed many a lunch of breadsticks, soup and salad there. But then again, I still watch The Simpsons. For reals, not ironically.
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I really honestly don’t understand all the hate for Olive Garden.
Are they a good Italian restaurant? Nope. But I have come to the sad conclusion that the average person, if confronted with a good Italian restaurant, would have absolutely no idea and complain because it didn’t taste like Ragu and Spaghetti.
By Fake Italian Restaurant Standards, they are… fairly good. Their food is fairly good. Their service is fairly good. Their pricing is fairly good. Their atmosphere is fairly good. Not exceptional, but average across the entire country. In terms of national chain restaurants - what, are you going to say Buca di Beppo? Fazoli’s? Pizza looks disappointedly over glasses Hut? Really?
Yes, there are tons of lovely, independent Italian restaurants out there that make your heart and stomach sing for joy. I have had art on a plate at this type of place. Once you eat at a place like this, it is hard to accept lesser restaurants. But finding them is hard, and so often when you ask around about Italian restaurants you find a Ragu on Bertolli place because that is what people want and expect from their Italian dining experience. And sadly, when you do find one, often it is a long way from home.
(And yes, I can cook much better Italian at home than Olive Garden serves. Sometimes it is worth $15 a plate to let someone else make it and bring it to you.)
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I think for me it’s all the claims of authenticity.
It’s the worst kind of cringe. It’s all american food for americans, with perhaps a loose genealogy in the cuisine claimed.
Just like most “chinese” food would be completely unrecognizable to people who grew up in china.
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I am totally aware that General Tso’s is an American creation though by an immigrant Chinese chef. I don’t care as it is damn tasty. That said I do like proper Chinese food and I am glad it is actually available where I live.
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OK, I get that. But I think most of us are aware of the difference. But given recent events (Trump and Brexit mostly), maybe I over estimate…
On the authentic experience… is there a phrase I could write down or print out that I can present to the waitress that I’d like to see the “locals” menu, not the one intended for the tubby white boyz? One in a common Chinese dialect (does such exist?), one Hindi, and one in Vietnamese. Oooh! and Thai.
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If what we call “Mexican” and “Chinese” are really all just “California food,” I’ll still eat it
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I just have to recognize the empirical fact that Texas Roadhouse butter yeast rolls are far superior to Olive Garden breadsticks, even though the breadsticks are good.
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Sure, let’s just call it authentically American
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