tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529257279200159741.post4068815821173743796..comments2024-02-22T08:18:09.417+01:00Comments on 50 Years In Italy: Eating Like an Italian - in Vetrallamary jane cryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229545822213640075noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529257279200159741.post-4342101837098935342015-09-22T22:09:42.527+02:002015-09-22T22:09:42.527+02:00Last night I ate at a Carrabas restaurant in Tyngs...Last night I ate at a Carrabas restaurant in Tyngsboro MA. and enjoyed the food, but not the ambience and had to make an effort to be patient with the way customers are treated.<br />I know its a cultural thing, but after 50 years in Italy I found it difficult to stay in line at the door, waiting to be shown to a table, of the waitresses choice, which was a cramped booth with a very high table. I felt suffocated, and we asked to be seated at a round table instead. <br />I tried to take photos of the salad bar but was told that company policy forbids picture taking unless its a birthday party and photos may only be taken of the party table and participants, <br />No olive oil on the table, it is applied in the kitchen. Bread and dishes of olive oil for dipping are given at the beginning of the meal. Waitress very present, every 5 minutes she came by to ask if everything was allright.<br />The portions are very large and we two women had doggie bags to bring home half the fettuccine and half of a chicken dish. Nephew was given complimentary dessert, 2 cannoli, to bring away. <br />Quite an experience. Mary Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529257279200159741.post-55932513509881942042013-07-15T10:49:06.772+02:002013-07-15T10:49:06.772+02:00i lke your post and thank's for share your inf...i lke your post and thank's for share your informaion Ace Maxs Kulit Manggishttp://goo.gl/oDB3unoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529257279200159741.post-23925125453015452892013-06-20T09:48:50.966+02:002013-06-20T09:48:50.966+02:00I continue to enjoy your blog and to remember with...I continue to enjoy your blog and to remember with great pleasure my all-too-brief stay in Vetralla. I especially enjoyed the recent blog about the young couple Fulvio shepherded to Etruscan sites since I had visited many on my trip (alone and in the rain, alas).<br /><br />I hope to see Vetralla in the Carrabas ads. Very cool that they found their way to you.<br /><br /><br />We ate at a Carrabas once a few years ago in Asheville North Carolina where we had gone for my daughter's college graduation. I can't say that the food was anything like the meal prepared by Fulvio at your home (please give him my best regards). But for an Italian chain restaurant here in the States I would consider it well above average. Here in Philadelphia we so many fine Italian restaurants (plenty of bad ones, too) that it is not likely that I would go to a chain restaurant, and I don't know if there is one in the city<br />Marged L. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529257279200159741.post-86134834354731117232013-06-17T07:15:41.752+02:002013-06-17T07:15:41.752+02:00Thank you Mike for your comment. I checked their ...Thank you Mike for your comment. I checked their menus that is why I mention the pasta with chicken. mary jane cryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05229545822213640075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529257279200159741.post-16377980921723934482013-06-17T07:14:41.515+02:002013-06-17T07:14:41.515+02:00Having eaten at the original Carrabba's in Hou... Having eaten at the original Carrabba's in Houston (in fact I was just there 2 weeks ago) since 1986 and having eaten the fare at the Bloomin' Brands (formerly known as the Outback Steakhouses)locations in the past, I must say there are significant differences between the Original versus the mass produced versions of Carrabba's, much less authentic Italian cooking. <br />Mike Campbell wrote: <br />The food from the Original Carrabba's on Kirby Drive in Houston and continues to be run by Johnny Carrabba and family is very much into authentic Italian cuisine, albeit a mix of his grandmother's recipes from Sicily and other more Northern recipes. The food is phenomenal there as it has been since the place opened in 1986. <br /><br />Whereas the fare at the chain locations is the typical Italian fare one can get at any Italian chain restaurant in the States, such as the Olive Garden, Buca di Beppo or the Macaroni Grill. Which is to say that they have antipasti, pasta and dolce but its Americanized for the palate of middle America.<br />12 hours ago via mobile · LikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com