The Olive Garden with Christine Nangle

"The Olive Garden with Christine Nangle" is Episode 51 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "The Olive Garden with Christine Nangle" was released on May 5, 2016.

## Synopsis

Writer and actor Christine Nangle (*Inside Amy Schumer*, *Kroll Show*) joins the ‘Boys to evaluate the biggest Italian chain restaurant in America: The Olive Garden. Mitch and Nangle face off in the return of beloved segment Pie in this Guy.

## Nick's intro

The *Grand Forks Herald* is the second largest newspaper in North Dakota. It's the paper where, in 2012, then-86-year-old columnist and informal food critic Marilyn Hagerty published a glowing review of a newly-opened franchise of the world's biggest Italian restaurant chain. Hagerty's rave went viral for its refreshing absence of irony in praising one of America's most well-known eateries, one often derided by coastal elites for its inauthenticity.

The restaurant traces its origins back to Red Lobster founder, Bill Darden, whose Darden Restaurants Group was purchased by massive processed-food conglomerate, General Mills, in the late 1970s. The company subsequently expanded its portfolio in 1982 by opening the first branch of a sit-down Italian concept in Orlando, Florida. It would become Darden's fastest-growing chain of all-time, expanding nationwide on the back of its menu of Italian-American favorites, along with its value-conscious offering of unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks.

Now with over 800 locations and a reported three billion dollars in sales, its financial dominance of the sit-down Italian sector is unquestionable.

But were Hagerty's accolades earned? When you're here, are you really family?

This week on *Doughboys*, The Olive Garden.

## Fork rating

* Chicken & Gnocchi Soup and Breadsticks
* Lasagna Fritta
* Braised Beef and Tortelloni
* Tour of Italy [Natalie's order]
 Mike Mitchell
* Water
* Unlimited Salad and Breadsticks
* Lasagna Fritta
* Chicken Parmigiana Lasagna
 Christine Nangle

* Chianti
* Appetizer Trio
	+ Stuffed Mushrooms
	+ Calamari
	+ "Ricotta Cheese Balls" (possibly Stuffed Ziti Fritta)
* Unlimited Salad and Breadsticks
* Tour Of Italy
	+ Fettucine Alfredo
	+ Lasagna Classico
	+ Eggplant Parmigiana
* Chocolate Brownie Lasagna

**Spoonman's Bite of the Night** went to the Lasagna Fritta. (Nick agreed.)

Christine shared her giant order with two friends, Claudia O'Doherty and Amy Nicholson.

## Pie In This Guy 🥧

In this segment, Nick brings a mystery slice of pie and Mitch and the guest try to crack a series of clues to guess what it is. They have the help of a lifeline: smell test or phone-a-friend.

The winner of the contest receives the mystery pie. The loser goes home empty-stomached.

Today's mystery pie was a Lemon Meringue Pie.

Christine is the winner! #NangGang

## Quotes

**Mitch**: Because your hero worked there?

## #hashtags

* #NangGang
* #CCDefine
* #MyPuppaWasAStrangeMan
* #EggCake

## The Feedbag

Can you think of any other fast food related hijinks, pranks, or hooliganism that you got up to in your youth?

 Mike Mitchell
 Christine Nangle #NangGang

## Restaurants

 Olive Garden
* Christine also went to this location (with Claudia O'Doherty and Amy Nicholson)

 Max & Erma's
 Bertucci's | -

## Plugs and Drops and Themes

 *South Park / The Chappelle Show / Saturday Night Live* (tv)
 Warrant "Cherry Pie"

## Related Episodes

* 152. Olive Garden 2
* 298. Olive Garden 3
* 72. Dairy Queen
* 100. Nugget Power Hour
* 123. Guy's American Kitchen
* 198. Portillo's
* 199. Lou Malnati's
* 219. Ben's Chili Bowl
* DD. Wawa
* 222. Rita's Italian Ice
* THON21/302. Taco Bell 5
* DD. Mount Ruffmore
* DD. Cookie Draft