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Sometimes, when you’re pregnant, you get cravings.
(we’ve talked about this before, remember?)
Sometimes, no matter what you tell yourself, nothing will satisfy those cravings like hot, garlicky breadsticks, crisp salad, and Tirimisu.
I’d include Manicotti in that list but, alas, the last time I checked, you can no longer get that particular dish at one of my favorite, family-friendly Italian restaurants.
Of COURSE, I’m talking about Olive Garden — an Italian restaurant that’s pretty much an American institution these days.
Even my younger sisters, none of whom are currently pregnant, get Olive Garden cravings; it was the first “real food” my sister ate after giving birth to her daughter a few weeks ago. She HAD to have it.
Hmmm … maybe it’s not necessarily a pregnancy craving but a sisterly thing?
Olive Garden Celebrates a New Tuscan Design
Here in Houston, three Olive Garden restaurants are giving locals the chance to experience something new: complimentary wine tasting events in honor of the new “Tuscan” inspired designs of these restaurants.
During the wine tastings, guests will get a chance to experience the restaurant’s design refresh, inspired by the timeless warmth of farmhouses in Tuscany, Italy. Although design changes differ from restaurant-to-restaurant, some updates include new décor around the restaurant and in the bar area, including tables, chairs and booths that emanate the warm, rustic tones of a Tuscan farmhouse.
Houston Olive Garden Wine Tastings
Led by Olive Garden’s wine specialists, the wine tasting events will further educate guests about Italian wines, including their origin, body style, aroma, flavor/finish and foods that pair well with them. The wine tasting events are for patrons 21 years of age and older.
(The way Mr. Boy is acting these days, I’m jealous of everyone who isn’t pregnant and can enjoy a little wine. We’re in the middle of two year molars here. Ugh – there are days I neeeeeed wine… or, at least, chocolate.)
On June 7th and June 8th (from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.), you can visit one of three locations for dinner and the wine tasting:
- 10830 N.W. Freeway, Houston, TX, 77092
- 7525 FM 1960 W., Houston, TX, 77070
- 10212 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City, TX, 77591
Olive Garden Giveaway — now closed
Whether you’re in Houston or elsewhere, YOU can enjoy some yummy food courtesy of Olive Garden!
One reader will win a $25 Olive Garden gift card . . . perfect for a date night, girls night, family night . . . or to treat yourself to a few of your favorites at your local Olive Garden.
To Enter:
Leave a comment sharing your favorite Olive Garden menu item, whether it’s a new or old selection. I love hearing about food!
Bonus Entries:
(complete any or all of the bonus entry options for more chances to win — please leave ONE comment PER bonus entry)
- Subscribe to Following In My Shoes by reader or email.
- “Like” Following In My Shoes on Facebook.
- “Like” Olive Garden on Facebook (they offer coupons and specials through their Facebook page!)
- Follow Following In My Shoes on Google Friend Connect.
- Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the giveaway. Please leave the URL to the Tweet in your comment. You can tweet up to twice a day but remember to leave the URL to each tweet. Feel free to use my “Tweet Button,” found at the top of this post, to send a quick and easy tweet.
Giveaway ends at noon on June 16th, 2011. Winner will be chosen using the random winner generator, “And The Winner Is.” I will notify the winner by email and he/she will have 48 hours from the date the email is sent to confirm his or her win. In the event I do not receive a confirmation by the deadline, another winner will be chosen.
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely that of the blog owners. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. I was given an Olive Garden gift card to thank me for my time. Yep, I get to eat too!
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About Rachel Lacy
My name is Rachel -- I share tales about food and family. I'm a home-cook who focuses on fresh & simple meals to both fuel us and to help us celebrate our family-life. My day starts with coffee. Lots of coffee. 
Monday - Corn Casserole, Pepper Steak, Salad
Tuesday - 
I really enjoy spaghetti.
I’m a big fan of the Eggplant Parmigiana!
Since I was five-years-old I’ve always been in love with Olive Garden. Specifically, I’ve LOVED their black olives. Sounds funny right? Black Olives were always my favorite food and my grandma would ask the waitress to bring me an extra bowl of black olives and they always brought me them with a smile! It really has become a tradition for my grandma and I since then. Now twenty-years-old, I don’t get a bowl of black olives anymore but instead I enjoy the chicken parmesan. Olive Garden will always be that special restaurant for me with traditions and great memories!
Daily Tweet #1
http://twitter.com/#!/disneyfan40/status/81114942358556672
Glad to be a GFC follower! (Cennywenny)
My favorite thing to get at the Olive Garden is their endless salad. It’s so yummy and sometimes we go and just have that and drinks. I love their dressing! Thank you for the lovely giveaway.
sewmuchstuff at ymail dot com
I love the Four Cheese Pastachetti with Grilled Chicken
I like you on Facebook
Debra Ford
I like Olive Garden on Facebook
Debra Ford
I subscribe to your RSS feed with google reader
I follow you on GFC.
Manicotti was my favorite too! I haven’t been out in so long that I had no idea it was no longer on the menu
I suppose I’ll have to find another favorite.
Actually haven’t been to Olive Garden, which is why I want this, but I love to splurge on any super rich pasta, like chicken alfredo.
wolverina401 at gmail dot com
I love the fettucine alfredo.
I love the chicken broccoli alfredo and the bread sticks with alfredo sauce
xxbeccaannxx@gmail.com
I subscribe to email
xxbeccaannxx@gmail.com
gfc follower
xxbeccaannxx@gmail.com
I like olive garden on fb.. Becca ann Peters
xxbeccaannxx@gmail.com
I like you on fb.. becca Ann Peters
xxbeccaannxx@gmail.com
I love the bread sticks!
Like you on FB (Lona Sausman Wibbels)
GFC follower (Lona728)
I love their chicken alfredo and of course the breadsticks!
tweet 1: http://twitter.com/myfolly/status/81195706332872704
wbailey113 at hotmail dot com
love the delicious Stuffed Chicken Marsala followed up with the Zeppoli
I love their salad! I crave it a lot, so I talk hubby into going out for lunch (love the soup, salad, breadstick lunch they offer) quite often.
tweet 2: http://twitter.com/myfolly/status/81204853958901760
wbailey113 at hotmail dot com
I like Olive Garden on facebook (Theresa Haga Mahoney)
I like Following In My Shoes on facebook (Theresa Haga Mahoney)
GFC Follower (Theresa Mahoney)
I love their baked ziti, yum! Thanks!
Following via GFC
Liked Olive Garden on FB (AngelaWinesburg)
i like the steak
i’m a reader subscriber
i like you on facebook
i like olive garden on facebook
i follow via GFC
i follow you on twitter and tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/JCoyne1031/status/81211454564483073
I like the Venetian Apricot Chicken
kolpin4680 at gmail dot com
gfc follower kolpin
kolpin4680 at gmail dot com
rss subscriber kolpin4680 at gmail dot com
twitter follower @kolpin4680 kolpin4680 at gmail dot com
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/kolpin4680/status/81214788209885184
I love the five cheese ziti. I always say i’m gonna try something new, but then I always wind up getting the ziti.
email subscriber
like you on facebook ( as stacy cook)
like olive garden on facebook (as stacy cook)
I absolutely love their salad.
shellquest99@comcast.net
http://twitter.com/#!/mendyd/status/81217212366585856
I love their bread sticks!
I like Olive Garden on Facebook.
I love thier lasagna
email subscribe
The breadsticks of course!
I like their soup, salad & breadsticks for lunch.
Thanks for the contest.
FB like Olive Garden: Slehan
FB like you: Slehan
I don’t realize how much I use ‘right click’ until it’s turned off. Why do you have it off? At least your links open a new tab and I can ‘control V’ my pastes
Twitter follow you: slehan
http://twitter.com/slehan/status/81257733101330432
Their lasagna fritta sounds good.
Now following GFC (Gianna).
I subscribed by email.
My favorite is the salad and breadsticks but I also love the Tour of Italy since it allows me to have all my favorite items on one plate.
luckycat1818(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow with google friend connect as luckycat1818.
luckycat1818(at)yahoo(dot)com
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/vlbsweeps/status/81298800781701120
vlbsweeps at gmail dot com
Daily Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/eyzofblu63/status/81313667496415232
love there salades ty.
I like the Spaghetti & Meatballs
Google Reader subscriber.
i love there breadsticks lol
daily tweet 1
http://twitter.com/#!/JenniferCNP/status/81328393592909825
http://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/81339125638242304
gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com
i like the tour of italy
Chicken Scampi is my favorite item.
I like Following In My Shoes on Facebook.
I love their salad and bread
I like the Endless Salad
I like Olive Garden on Facebook.
I follow Following In My Shoes on Google Friend Connect.
I love their salad!
I love their lasagna
follow via GFC
Like you on FB Susan Smith
Like Olive Garden on FB Susan Smith
http:// twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/81358911269109760
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/vlbsweeps/status/81360509261197312
vlbsweeps at gmail dot com
I love their Mussels Di Napoli. Mmmmmmm.
We love their breadsticks (yeah, we like other stuff, too, but it’s the breadsticks that draw us there!)
I subscribe with google reader
I like you on facebook – barbara wright
I “Like” Olive Garden on Facebook – barbara wright
I follow you with google friends connect – barbara wright
I follow you on twitter and tweeted https://twitter.com/bsw529/status/81365818633498624
I love the 5 cheese ziti!
thransom@gmail.com
I am an email subscriber
I “Like” Following In My Shoes on Facebook.
(T.h.Ransom)
I “Like” Olive Garden on Facebook
(T.h.Ransom)
I follow Following In My Shoes on Google Friend Connect.
Follow on Twitter and tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/THRansom/status/81368030034149377
tweet 1: http://twitter.com/myfolly/status/81369076613660673
wbailey113 at hotmail dot com
Black tie mousse cake!!