An article in USA Today (12/17/00) is titled Italian expert turns nose up at fare.
The article begins
Italian cooking expert Marcella Hazan, whose books have sold more than 1 million copies worldwide, accepted USA TODAY’s invitation to a meal at Olive Garden. She was joined by her husband, Victor, an expert on Italian wine and food. The idea: to gauge the company’s claim of offering “a genuine Italian dining experience.”
SARASOTA, Fla. — What’s wrong with Italian cooking in America?
Too much garlic, too little salt and much of what’s on the menu at Olive Garden, says Marcella Hazan.
[...]
The article goes on to detail Hazan’s comments on the soup, the pasta, the entrees.
I’ve eaten at an Olive Garden … once. The only reason I’d return would be for a retirement lunch or similar event where the organizers wanted a restaurant with a menu most people could choose from that could put warm food in front of a number of people quickly.