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Mara Frazier
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mfrazier@olivegarden.com

Seasonal dessert specialty Pumpkin Cheesecake also returns

ORLANDO, Fla. – Olive Garden will feature Chicken Roma and Asiago Chicken on its menu from Oct. 16 through Dec. 31. Inspired by Olive Garden’s Riserva di Fizzano restaurant and Culinary Institute of Tuscany in Italy, Chicken Roma and Asiago Chicken bring together classic Italian ingredients with new preparations and combinations to create layers of unique flavor.

Chicken Roma photo download

Olive Garden’s Chicken Roma begins with sautéed chicken breasts, which are layered with four Italian cheeses – smoked mozzarella, provolone, Romano and Parmesan – Roma tomatoes and fresh arugula. It’s served with curly fettuccine tossed in a sundried tomato cheese sauce. The perfect complement to this entrée is a rich, full-bodied Cabernet, such as Sterling Vintner’s Collection Cabernet.

Asiago Chicken is made with grilled chicken breasts layered with Asiago, mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan and Romano cheeses, roasted garlic, and fresh arugula, then topped with a creamy Alfredo sauce, one of 24 sauces made from scratch in Olive Garden restaurants every day. Asiago Chicken is accompanied by Tuscan potatoes and bell peppers. A mildly sweet, crisp wine, such as Sutter Home White Zinfandel, pairs well with this dish.

Pumpkin Cheesecake photo download

Just in time for the fall and winter holidays, Olive Garden also will bring back the seasonal dessert favorite Pumpkin Cheesecake through Dec. 31. Pumpkin Cheesecake is crowned with whipped cream, caramel sauce and ginger cookie crumbles. Every year, 100 Olive Garden restaurant managers travel to Italy to the company’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany and Olive Garden Riserva di Fizzano restaurant to learn the time-honored traditions of Italian food, wine and hospitality. Here, an integral part of the weeklong study is dedicated to learning about, tasting and cooking with traditional Italian ingredients and the local specialties of regions throughout Italy.

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with 584 restaurants, 70,000 employees and more than $2 billion in annual sales. Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:DRI), the world’s largest casual dining company. Visit Olive Garden’s Web site at www.olivegarden.com.

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