Sunday, November 9, 2014

Day 49 - It's A Wrap!

Today is officially the last day of the pasta pass and I can't say i'm sad to see it end. Over all it was a positive experience and I'm glad I got one. I would recommend pretty much anything on the menu except the sausage, it was consistently salty and bland. I liked the Fettuccine Alfredo with the Chicken Fritta the best, the cheese sauce is very creamy with a great taste. The Chicken Fritta was always very good but when not limited to the pass you can get the Alfredo meal with grilled chicken which makes it that much better. Before I got this pass I would go a half dozen times a year and that would be what I usually ordered. I didn't really mention the salad much but the dressing is the main reason I go back there. It's like pouring liquid gold over your salad! That and the after dinner mints which are Andes Candies made specifically for Olive Garden. They are now my favorite mint and chocolate combination. It used to be York Peppermint Patties till I saw the public service announcement on Family Guy.

I consumed over 37000 calories in 35 days which averaged out to about 1050 per meal and probably 3500 calories per day with my other meals, snacks, and 3 am snacks. I was 165 lbs when it started and I gained...nothing. I'm afflicted with "a**hole can eat anything" disease, or at least I've heard it called that.

My most consumed pasta was the Angel Hair which I had 20 of the 35 days. The Marinara beat out the meat sauce by one day with 10 and the Chicken Fritta was the clear topping winner with 15 of the 35 days. I think the take out had a lot to do with my choices, I would of had more of the cheese sauces if I ate in house. When I did eat in, the staff was helpful and pleasant. The girls at the bar came to know me by name and they were all really nice.

The total cost ended up at $556.30 which gave me $456.30 of net "profit". I would probably spend that amount in 49 days on groceries but I only spent about $50.00 since September so my overall savings was around $400.00.

They said they only gave out a thousand but I think they oversold. I noticed when everyone was getting their cards it was in a custom display box and they had them a few days after the order. Mine came overnight the Friday before it started and it was in a bulk mailer envelope with the card, welcome note and the envelope all just tossed in. If that was the case, kudos to Olive Garden for honoring the screw-up.

I will definitely be going back again..not this year tho. It's better than a McDonald's or Burger King without costing that much more. If nothing else you can also get alcohol there to make you forget how it was.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Day 47 - It's The End Of The Pass As We Know It...

That's great, it starts with a pasta plate
Bread and salad, unlimited, and Kelly Ripas not afraid

Eye on the menu, looking at the sampler
Waiting for the wine list, they forget the wine list
Order up a red, white, blush, no, magnum
The waiter brings some water with extra napkins
Bread in a basket, representing buttered garlic
And a mushroom appetizer from a combo plate
Salad is coming in a hurry with the dressing and the grated cheese

Cappuccino, Caffe latte, whip cream topped
Fighting back chest pain, fine, then
Uh-oh, classico, probably, common food
But it'll do, save yourself, serve yourself
Waiter serves your last plate, no more pasta days straight
Tell me was the pasta and the meat just right, right
You alcoholic, pastaholic, risotto bite, quite right
Feeling pretty psyched

It's the end of the pass as we know it
It's the end of the pass as we know it
It's the end of the pass as we know it, and I feel fine

Chicken parm, whole or half, don’t forget to tip the staff
Pepper, salt, default, passes in a bank vault
Lasagna primavera, Baked Salmon, Bruschetta
Every bite on my plate, candle votive, overweight
Eat a bread stick, eat a plate, one more, one more
Watch your waist grow, grow, uh-oh
Next plate linguine, fettuccine, stuffed or fried zucchini
A tour thru, a tour thru, a tour of Italy
Offer me zeppoli, offer me some cake, and I decline

It's the end of the pass as we know it (I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it (I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it, and I feel fine (It's time I had some time alone)
I feel fine (I feel fine)

It's the end of the pass as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it, and I feel fine (It's time I had some time alone)

The other night I dined a nice lasagna fritta fried
Frittas dipped in batter, Leonard Hofstadter
Extra bread sticks, classy, spicy calamari
Black Tie Mousse Cake, Tiramisu
You catatonic, gastronic, pig out. Check! Right, right...

It's the end of the pass as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it, and I feel fine (It's time I had some time alone)

It's the end of the pass as we know it
It's the end of the pass as we know it
It's the end of the pass as we know it, and I feel fine (It's time I had some time alone)

It's the end of the pass as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it, and I feel fine (It's time I had some time alone)

It's the end of the pass as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the pass as we know it, and I feel fine (It's time I had some time alone)

(It's time I had some time alone)

For my final night of the Pasta Pass season I had dinner in house. I finished out the year with the Fettuccine Alfredo w/ Chicken Fritta, salad and 2 Cokes.


20141107_182328

Since I ate there it was a nice creamy sauce and the chicken was cooked perfectly. Everything was very good tonight and it was a great way to end this little experiment. I will give this meal a 9.5 out of 10.
Calories - 1730
Cost tonight - $16.07
Up - $456.30



and I feel fine.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Day 46 - Pasta Ghost - Coast to Coast

I had this gym teacher in school
Who talked like this
Yeah, buddy
Yeah, boy
Yeah, buddy buddy buddy
Boy boy boy boy
Yeah
Hey, baby
Yeah, baby
Yeah, buddy
Yeah, buddy baby boy
Buddy baby boy
Yeah, yeah yeah
Baby, baby boy
Yeah, buddy
I liked him a lot
'Cause he gave me a D
Sure I did
When I told my mom about it
She got so excited
She got me a pasta pass
The end


Tonight I had the Angel Hair pasta w/ the Marinara sauce, Shrimp Fritta, Zuppa Toscana and a Coke.


20141106_184145

I thought I had ordered the marinara sauce but I got the spicy meat sauce instead?? It was ok tonight but since I am on the last week I thought I would try the Zuppa soupa but i'm sorry I did because it gave me the poopas. I don't know if it was the soup, pasta or shrimp but I'm currently sitting here hoping I don't puke... I thought a one was the lowest score I could give but that was for edible food. A 0 out of 10.
Calories - 1340 (I guess this will be zero if it comes back out...)
Cost tonight = $17.07
Up - $ 440.33


Space Ghost... I think I'm pregnant.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Day 45 - Pasta & Stimpy

Ren: [afflicted with Space Madness and holding a pasta pass he's been chewing] Oh, no! I know what you want! You coveteth my pasta pass!
Stimpy: Easy now...
Ren: [shouts] No you don't! You can't take it from me now!
[starts to cry]
Ren: I've had this pasta pass since I was a child. People... always trying to take it from me... why... won't they leave me... *alone*!
[grabs a bread stick]
Ren: [shouts] Don't make me use this! One step closer, I'm warning you! Don't make me use it!
[Stimpy takes one more step]
Ren: Now you've done it! You forced me to use it!


I stayed with the Angel Hair pasta w/ Marinara sauce, Chicken Fritta and a Coke.


20141105_182924

Tonight's plate was actually really good. The chicken was cooked just right and everything just tasted good together for a change. My dog Pocket was even trying to steal a bite while I was taking the picture. It could of used a little more sauce but other than that it took me back to the good 'ole days of  September when the leaves were still on the trees and my taste buds didn't scream at the sight of pasta. I will give this meal an 8 out of 10.
Calories - 930
Cost tonight - $16.07
Up - $423.26

Happy-happy, joy-joy.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Day 44 - Dungeon Pass

You wake up on the sidewalk, to the west of you there is a large building. There is a lighted sign over the building.
READ SIGN
The sign says Olive Garden.
GO EAST
You are in the middle of a large parking lot. There is nothing here so you return to the sidewalk.
GO WEST
You are at the front door of the building.
KNOCK ON DOOR
The people inside look at you quizzically.
OPEN DOOR
You open the door and enter the lobby of the building. To your north and south are doors with signs on them and to the west lies a dimly lit room.
GO NORTH
You are facing a large wooden door, there is an old metal sign attached to the door.
READ SIGN
The sign says Mens.
GO SOUTH
You are facing a large wooden door, there is an old metal sign attached to this door as well.
KNOCK ON DOOR
No one answers.
GO WEST
You enter a dimly lit room with tables and a bar at the other end of the room. TVs are playing on the north and south walls.
LOOK AT TABLES
An old couple sits at one of the tables enjoying some type of food, you can't make out what type from here. The other tables are empty but one of them has some money on it.
TAKE MONEY
As you go to pick up the money a large man grabs you by the neck and starts to twist. The last thing you hear as you die is the man cackling.
..
You wake up on the sidewalk, to the west of you there is a large building. There is a lighted sign over the building.
GO WEST
You ar...
OPEN DOOR
You op..
GOWEST
I'm sorry I don't understand.
GO WETS
I'm sorry I don't understand.
F**KING GO WEST
I'm sorry I don't understand.
GO WEST
Yo...
GO WEST
You are standing in front of a bar. A plethora of fine liquors line the wall behind the bar. The bartender has a shocked look on his face wondering why you were screaming "GO WEST" while running up to the bar.
LOOK AT LIQUOR
Bottles from the furthest reaches of the world are lined up in 3 rows.
BUY LIQUOR
You ask the barkeep for a shot of their finest liquor. He shows you the price so you take a shot of their most affordable liquor.
TALK TO BARTENDER
The bartender tells you of a magical pass that bears the holder an endless supply of pasta. He goes on to say how only a select few were chosen and they... While he is talking you have flashes of a golden pass, like you've seen it somewhere before.
USE PASS
You wave your empty hands at the bartender. He frowns at you and takes the bottle he had on the bar and puts it back on the shelf. "There will be no more liquor for you sir". You may want to check your wallet.
OPEN WALLET
A poof of dust escapes as you open the wallet. The only thing inside is a pasta pass.
TAKE OUT PASTA PASS
You pull out the pasta pass and the bartender recognizes it right away. "Oh, i'm sorry sir let me get that for you".The bartender scurries away and returns with a large bag filled with food.
You have found the pasta treasure, thank you for playing.


For the last Tuesday meal I had the Angel Hair pasta w/ Meat sauce, Chicken Fritta and a Coke.


20141104_181250

The taste was pretty good tonight, I didn't feel like I had to force it down. That was till I ran out of the meat sauce about half way through the pasta. The chicken was a little overcooked but overall it was pretty good. I will give this meal a 6.5 out of 10.
Calories - 1100
Cost tonight - $16.07
Up - $407.19

Hello there. My name is Larry; Larry Laffer.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Day 43 - Pasta-X

Pasta pass
it's a pasta pass
it's a pasta pass
it's a pasta pass
I take the plate
I take the plate
I take the plate
I take the plate
it's pasta pass
it's pasta pass
it's pasta pass
I ate for days
I ate for days
I ate for days
I ate for days

Down to the final week!! I was planning on eating in the restaurant this final week but I'm back on call so it will probably be take out. I'm sticking with the Angel Hair pasta w/ Marinara, meatballs and a Coke.


20141103_182245

I don't know how many ways I can say the same thing so it was all good. I'm going more for a finish/no finish goal on these last couple days. I was wondering how long it would take to get sick of home made spaghetti. I would imagine it would be a couple extra months. The main issue with getting food from a restaurant is getting it right. You don't really pick up everything that is wrong if you just eat one meal but night after night after night you find all the faults. Anyway, it was edible tonight so I will give this meal a 7 out of 10.
Calories - 870
Cost tonight - $15.57
Up - $391.12


R.I.P. Wayne Static.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Day 40 - Nightmare on Pasta Street

One, two, OG's coming for you
Three, four, better lock your door
Five, six, get your pasta fix
Seven, eight, gonna finish the plate
Nine, ten, never eat again


Tonight featured the Angel Hair pasta w/ the Spicy Meat sauce, Italian Sausage and a Coke.


20141031_181037

The pasta was a little over cooked but was edible, the spicy sauce was just that, spicy. I stayed away from the sausage but since I'm coming to the end of the pass I thought I would try and now I know why I didn't. The only taste it had was the saltiness, the sausage itself was bland other than that. I will give this meal a 6 out of 10.
Calories - 940
Cost tonight - $15.57
Up - $375.55



It's only a dream!

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Day 39 - Pasta Day

Say, man, you got a pasta pass?
No, not on me, man.
It'd be a lot cooler if you did.


I went with the Angel Hair pasta w/ the Marinara sauce, the meatballs and a Coke.


20141030_180117

I was happy to find that my pasta pallet wasn't f**ked. It was a good meal tonight, the pasta was cooked just right and the marinara sauce and meatballs are always good. I got the salad with it which I don't think will be making it through the night in the fridge. I will give this meal a 9 out of 10.
Calories - 870
Cost tonight - $15.57
Up - $359.98


All right, all right, all right.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Day 38 - Dazed and Pasta

Say, man, you got a pasta pass?
No, not on me, man.
It'd be a lot cooler if you did.


I went with the Angel Hair pasta w/ the Marinara sauce, the meatballs and a Coke.


20141029_175502

I was happy to find that my pasta pallet wasn't f**ked. It was a good meal tonight, the pasta was cooked just right and the marinara sauce and meatballs are always good. I got the salad with it which I don't think will be making it through the night in the fridge. I will give this meal a 9 out of 10.
Calories - 870
Cost tonight - $15.57
Up - $344.41


All right, all right, all right.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Day 37 - Willy Wonka and the Pasta Factory

Round the world and home again
That's the sailor's way
Faster faster, faster faster

Yet another day of knowing
To Olive Garden we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the pasta's flowing

Is it raining, is it snowing
Is a hurricane a-blowing

Not a speck of plate is showing
So the pasta must be growing
Are the appetizers a-glowing
is the waitress easygoing

Yes, the pasta must be growing
For the servers keep on serving
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing


Tonight I had the Fettuccine Alfredo w/ Shrimp Fritta and a Coke.


20141028_175339

I had to get something different so I went with the dry pasta. In the restaurant it is pretty good but the alfredo sauce can not sit..At all. After about an hour I was finished and the taste was good, just dry. I'll give this meal a 7 out of 10.
Calories - 1360
Cost tonight - $17.07
Up - $328.84




Stop the boat.