Olive Garden’s freshly baked breadsticks are one of the most iconic parts of the dining experience at the Italian restaurant chain. Warm, soft, and coated in garlic butter, olive oil, and parmesan cheese, Olive Garden breadsticks are a beloved appetizer for many patrons. But does Olive Garden actually make these breadsticks from scratch in their own kitchens? Or are they shipped in pre-made and simply heated up on site? This is a question that many Olive Garden fans have wondered about over the years. In this article, we’ll examine Olive Garden’s breadstick preparation process and try to determine if they truly make their famous breadsticks in house.
The Claim from Olive Garden
According to Olive Garden, their breadsticks are made fresh daily in each restaurant location. On their website’s “Our Story” page, Olive Garden states: “We’re proud to serve our freshly baked garlic breadsticks that are made from scratch throughout the day, every day.” The phrase “made from scratch” implies that Olive Garden locations are actively mixing ingredients and baking breadsticks, rather than warming up pre-made frozen breadsticks. Olive Garden has maintained this narrative for years across their website, social media, and marketing materials.
Evidence That Olive Garden Makes Breadsticks In House
There are a few pieces of evidence that suggest Olive Garden does indeed make their breadsticks fresh in house rather than using frozen, pre-made breadsticks:
On-Site Preparation
Many Olive Garden employees and some food reviewers have witnessed the breadstick preparation process happening on-site at various locations. They describe seeing large amounts of raw dough being rolled and stretched by hand, proofed and risen, slit with a blade, topped with parmesan and spices, and then baked in the restaurant’s ovens. Some have posted photos and videos showing this process occurring in Olive Garden kitchens.
Made-to-Order Timing
Olive Garden claims their breadsticks are “hot out of the oven and ready when you are.” Many customers confirm that breadsticks arrive soon after ordering, rather than sitting under a warmer, which indicates they are baked fresh after orders come in.
Ingredients Delivered and Stored
There have been sightings of frequent bulk deliveries of flour, yeast, and other bread ingredients to Olive Garden locations. Excess raw dough is often stored in the refrigerated sections of kitchens. This matches up with the narrative of breadsticks being made from scratch with basic ingredients.
Open Kitchen Layouts
Some newer and remodeled Olive Garden locations feature open kitchen floor plans. In these stores, customers can clearly see employees rolling raw dough, preparing breadsticks, and loading them into ovens throughout the day.
Evidence That Breadsticks May Be Pre-Made
However, there are also some indications that Olive Garden may not always make breadsticks completely from scratch in house. Here are some clues that point to potential use of pre-made or frozen breadstick dough:
High Volume Prep
Olive Garden serves an extremely high volume of breadsticks every day. Making every single order completely from scratch during busy shifts may be unrealistic, leading some to speculate they par-bake large batches of breadsticks then finish cooking to order.
Standardized Appearance
Breadsticks look nearly identical at all locations, showing little variation you’d expect from made-from-scratch baking done by different chefs every day. This uniformity points to potential centralized preparation.
Pre-Made Dough Deliveries
There have been reports of Olive Garden locations receiving deliveries of large frozen dough blocks, balls, and ready-to-bake sticks, though Olive Garden claims these are only backup supplies and not routinely used.
Employee Commentary
Some anonymous Olive Garden employees have stated that breadsticks arrive to the restaurant partially pre-made and are just heated up on site. However, Olive Garden firmly denies these claims.
Olive Garden’s Response to Accusations
Olive Garden continues to insist that their breadsticks are made fresh in house daily and not from frozen, pre-made dough. They state that any deliveries of dough are “only a backup option” and would never be used on a daily basis. The company acknowledges that some prep work like forming dough balls may happen in advance during busy shifts, but maintain their breadsticks are always baked fresh after orders are placed.
In response to any employee commentary about pre-made breadsticks, Olive Garden says these individuals “likely misunderstood procedures” and do not have an accurate view of their culinary operations. Olive Garden firmly stands by their claims of always serving hot, freshly baked breadsticks.
The Verdict on Olive Garden’s Breadstick Process
After examining all the evidence available, the truth likely lies somewhere in the middle between “completely from scratch” and “fully pre-made.” Here is an assessment of Olive Garden’s most plausible breadstick process:
– Each location probably receives deliveries of raw ingredients – flour, yeast, oil, etc. – and mixes large batches of dough on site.
– During busy shifts, portions of this dough may be formed into balls, logs, or sticks to save time when orders come in.
– However, these pre-formed breadsticks are still completely raw and unbaked. They are not cooked frozen breadsticks.
– When an order comes in, the raw dough breadsticks are prepared with toppings then baked fresh in the pizza oven for that individual order.
So in summary – Olive Garden likely makes their breadsticks using a semi-scratch process. While there is some component of pre-prep and par-baking when needed to meet demand, the breadsticks do undergo a final preparation and baking stage for each order placed.
The chain probably uses this smart hybrid system to deliver freshly baked breadsticks efficiently at scale while still being able to claim they are “made from scratch.” So the answer to whether Olive Garden breadsticks are truly made in house is – mostly yes, but with some prepared ingredients mixed in.
The Customer Experience
Does it really matter to customers if Olive Garden breadsticks aren’t entirely made from raw ingredients shaped by hand for every single order? For most patrons, probably not. As long as the breadsticks ultimately taste fresh and delicious, the behind-the-scenes preparation details are irrelevant.
At the end of the day, customers care far more about enjoying piping hot, garlicky breadsticks that are ready the moment their entrees arrive. Olive Garden clearly delivers an excellent customer experience – they serve nearly 700 million breadsticks per year. So while their “made from scratch” claims may not be 100% accurate, their process still produces one of America’s favorite appetizers.
The Impact of COVID-19
One factor that could potentially impact Olive Garden’s breadstick preparation process is the COVID-19 pandemic. Temporary closures and capacity restrictions have significantly affected the national supply chain, manufacturing capabilities, and on-site activities of most restaurants.
During COVID-19 conditions, it’s quite possible that Olive Garden may have altered their typical breadstick production methods to accommodate health regulations, reduced staffing, and supply shortages. Relying more heavily on par-baked or pre-made products from centralized commissary kitchens could have been necessary for periods of time.
However, Olive Garden has not indicated publicly if or how their breadstick procedures may have been modified during the pandemic. Once restaurants fully return to normal operation post-COVID, Olive Garden is likely to resume their standard breadstick prep strategies. But the challenges of COVID-19 probably required some temporary adjustments to their from-scratch baking processes.
Quality Control and Testing
Maintaining consistent quality and taste for a menu item like breadsticks across hundreds of locations requires careful oversight and control from the corporate side. To ensure uniformity, Olive Garden likely issues very specific instructions to all restaurants detailing exactly how to prepare and bake breadsticks.
They may also conduct frequent quality control checks by having corporate kitchens bake breadsticks using the current specs. These test samples are evaluated on criteria like appearance, texture, crispness, and flavor. If any adjustments are needed to the standard recipe or procedures, updated guidance can be distributed to all locations.
Olive Garden probably completes similar quality control steps for all menu items. It’s an essential part of managing a huge chain restaurant system and making sure customers have the same experience regardless of which location they visit. For a signature item like Olive Garden’s breadsticks, maintaining that consistency is especially critical.
Nutritional Information
Olive Garden breadsticks are an indulgent appetizer, so some customers may be curious about their nutritional content. Here are the basic stats for Olive Garden’s breadsticks according to their online nutrition information:
Serving Size:
4 breadsticks
Calories:
230
Fat:
8g
Carbs:
30g
Protein:
4g
Sodium:
690mg
So while certainly not the healthiest choice calorically, Olive Garden’s breadsticks are unlikely to blow up your entire daily diet if enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall balanced meal. Just be mindful of extra toppings like Alfredo sauce that can add more calories, fat, and sodium if dipped heavily.
Recipe and Preparation Tips
For home cooks wishing to recreate the magic of Olive Garden breadsticks at home, here are some recipe tips and preparation pointers:
Ingredients:
- High-gluten flour – gives the breadsticks a chewy texture
- Extra virgin olive oil – for flavor and moisture
- Warm water – activates the yeast
- Sugar – food for the yeast
- Salt – for flavor enhancement
- Garlic powder – for a garlicky punch
- Italian seasoning – for an herby aroma
- Grated parmesan – for a savory, salty finish
Steps:
- Activate the yeast by dissolving it in warm water with a bit of sugar.
- Mix the activated yeast with flour, olive oil, salt, and seasonings to form a dough.
- Knead thoroughly and let rise until doubled in size.
- Punch down dough and divide into breadstick shapes.
- Roll breadsticks to elongate and form signature shape.
- Cover and let rise again.
- Brush with olive oil and garlic butter, sprinkle Parmesan.
- Bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes until golden brown.
- Enjoy immediately while hot and fresh!
Be sure to closely follow measurements and allow adequate rise time for light and airy breadsticks with that perfect chewy Olive Garden texture.
Variations
Once you master the classic Olive Garden breadstick, get creative by trying these tasty variations:
Garlic Parmesan:
– Brush with garlic butter and coat with parmesan before baking
Everything Bagel:
– Top with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic before baking
Pesto Parmesan:
– Swirl pesto sauce into the dough, top with parmesan
Jalapeño Cheddar:
– Stud with diced jalapeños and shredded cheddar cheese
Cinnamon Sugar:
– Coat with cinnamon and sugar instead of salt before baking for a dessert twist
The possibilities are endless for customizing Olive Garden’s iconic breadsticks!
Conclusion
Olive Garden’s freshly baked breadsticks are arguably the chain’s most beloved menu item. And while their “made from scratch” claims may involve some degree of prep work for efficiency, the end product delivered to customers still appears to be baked fresh for each order. So even if the breadsticks aren’t crafted completely by hand from raw ingredients every time, Olive Garden ultimately still delivers the hot, delicious, iconic breadsticks that their customers crave. At the end of the day, that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste and quality is what really matters.