SoCal LowCal Locale - Olive Garden

I'm a really easy person to impress (add sparklers to any talent show submission and I'm ECSTATIC that I was CHOSEN to join the audience). However, I'm also an easily frustrated person when I can't find a meal that I'm confident isn't going to blow my calorie balance.  I swooned when I heard about the California menu labeling law (SB 1420) in 2008.  I've been seeing its evidence for a while in drive-thrus, but I'm so giddy that it's finally hitting restaurants!

Mr. Husband took me to a lovely lunch at Olive Garden (because we had a gift card). Normally, we avoid eating out because I get so annoyed when I think I've ordered a healthy option and "grilled" turns out to mean "dripping in butter and so huge you could feed 12 4th graders with it."  We decided to give it a shot mainly because we were both really hungry and I didn't want to cook.

Guess who has calorie counts on their menus now? OLIVE GARDEN!

Guess who got to have a delicious, (almost) anxiety free meal? THIS GUY!

Venetian Apricot Chicken
(280-380 Calories)

I had the Venetian Apricot Chicken and one bowl of Minestrone.  Both were super delicious and, combined, were the perfect amount of food for lunch. The best part was that together my calorie-bill came to less than 500 calories! Well, actually, the best part was that I got to pick based half on calories and half on what looked appetizing.  It's like a dream come true to see that on the menu. 

My only complaint is that the menu and the website disagree on the caloric content of the Venetian Apricot Chicken.  The menu touted 280 calories and the website says 380. A meager 100 calories doesn't kill me, so I have no plans on complaining.  Honestly, if it was 380 it was well worth it! The sauce was sweet and apricotty without being overpowering or overly fruity.  The asparagus and broccoli paired really well with it, too.  

I really loved their minestrone.  I'm ashamed to say I've never had a minestrone that didn't come in a can labeled "Progresso."  That said, forgive my language, but that shit was incredible. The flavors were robust and it was packed with veggies!

Minestrone
(100 Calories)

I snuck a breadstick (150 calories).  They're just as fluffy and salty as I recalled.  I don't know if they're worth the calories, but they are amazing dipped in minestrone.  

I'm not going to comment on the service because, well, the poor guy tried... All this post has served to do is make me want to force Mr. Husband into taking me back for more minestrone. I think getting it to-go would make a really yummy lazy Sunday lunch.  

Flavor: 4 out of 5 

Caloric Content: 5 out of 5

Service: 2 out of 5

The models in these photographs belong to Olive Garden.
The photographs are theirs too..