This week, Jordan and Justin Garton -- a pair of Fort Smith pasta aficionados -- got viral attention about the planned name for their little breadstick in the oven that is due any minute now.
Olivia Garton.
Sounds like Olive Garden.
"My husband and I have always loved Olive Garden, having gone on several date nights there," Jordan told Arkansas Online's Rachel Herzog, adding that in the past, the couple subsisted for two months on unlimited pasta, soup, salad and breadsticks bought with a $100 Never Ending Pasta Pass.
I chatted with Justin via Facebook about the worldwide response to baby Olivia's name. Some think it's sweet as a slice of the OG's seasonal Sicilian cheesecake (after all, Jordan is a third-generation Italian-American). Others have used it as an excuse to "piccata" them.
"Our friends and family have all loved the name from day one," he says. "We have received some criticism from 'internet trolls' who just read the headlines and failed to understand the whole story. If we had actually named her after the restaurant, I could see where criticism could be justified. But it wasn't until after we decided on Olivia that we noticed the Olive Garden pun. We do have a connection to the restaurant, so it was a welcomed coincidence, but it wasn't as direct as some outlets have made it out to be."
Some people were just rotten. Which brings a tir-amisu to one's eye.
He says, "The comments were harsh at first and it was hard not to respond on social media. But after a while, we realized that they were all misinformed, and all of those comments mean nothing to us."
Right! Who cares what the fettuccine they think?
Because Olive Garden sure loves it.
Says Justin about management that reached out: "They told us our story has 'made their day' and they wanted to hear more about us. They asked us how we met, what Olive Garden meant to us and how we settled on the name Olivia. They also told us they were excited and wanted to send baby Olivia an early birthday gift!"
Perhaps it will be a Family-Style Lasagna Bundle for their new bundle of joy! Or maybe it will be Never Ending Pasta Passes that are truly never ending! Or, ooooh, perhaps it will include a Tour of Italy -- the OG signature pasta sampler, if not an actual trip!
All of this got me thinking about all the other beloved chain restaurants that could make for potential names ... and presents. Of course we already know about the obvious ones: Chuck E. Cheese's, Cicis Pizza, Dave & Buster's, Denny's, Jimmy John's, Lennys Subs, Wendy's, etc.
Consider what follows a handy foodie baby naming guide.
A. Anne (Auntie Anne's)
Apple B. (Applebee's Grill + Bar)
Duncan D. Nuts (Dunkin' Donuts)
Benny Gann's (Bennigan's)
Ben I. Hannah (Benihana)
Ben Fish (Bonefish Grill)
Berger Keene (Burger King)
Buffy Lee W. Wang (Buffalo Wild Wings)
Liam C. Czars (Little Caesars)
Chet Tarr (Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen)
Jack R. Darrell (Cracker Barrel Old Country Store)
C. Fil-A-mena (Chick-fil-A)
Chip Otley (Chipotle Mexican Grill)
Cole Stone (Cold Stone Creamery)
Crystal Berger (Krystal)
Daria Queen (Dairy Queen)
Dick E. Caffey (Dixie Cafe)
Dom E. Nose (Domino's Pizza)
Finn Guy (Five Guys)
Goldie Coral (Golden Corral)
Hardin Rocco (Hard Rock Cafe)
Kay F. See (KFC)
Kristy Korinne (Krispy Kreme)
L. Chip Ho (El Chico)
Alexis Rhoda House (Texas Roadhouse)
Mack Donald (McDonald's)
Mel O. Mia-Shroom (Mellow Mushroom)
Pamela B. Red (Panera Bread)
P. Bella (Potbelly)
P. Annette Holly Wood (Planet Hollywood)
P. Zsa Hutt (Pizza Hut)
Pia F. Chang (P.F. Chang's)
R. Bea (Arby's)
Rhett Lobster (Red Lobster)
R. Robin (Red Robin)
Sam Barrow (Sbarro)
S. Nick (Sonic)
Starla Bux (Starbucks)
T.C. Belle (Taco Bell)
T. Wynn Peaks (Twin Peaks)
Wanda Berger (Whattaburger)
Whit Castle (White Castle)
Waldon House (Waffle House)
Zack B. (Zaxby's)
Use your noodle and email:
jchristman@arkansasonline.com
Spin Cycle is a weekly smirk at pop culture.
Style on 12/03/2017