What Anthony Bourdain thinks of Olive Garden.

[Walk away]

23. Well to start off....

This lady makes the best rice balls in NJ. (There is a place in Staten Island that makes the best in the U.S.). That's creamy risotto mixed with the best grated imported Parmesan rolled into balls, stuffed with meat, olives, onions then coated with fresh bread crumbs and deep fried. Served with homemade Marinara sauce on the side. Or Bruchette made with back yard Jersey tomatoes, fresh basil, semolina bread from Hoboken and the creamiest, warm, fresh mozzarella ever. They make it fresh every half hour all day long. They make globe artichokes stuffed with cheese, bread crumbs, prosciutto and roasted garlic. They always have beautiful soups, stuffed roasted eggplants, grilled Lemon Chicken with fresh oregano and capers and lots of specials.

The best part is that it is a small storefront attached to their home. The kitchen is always filled with tiny old Italian ladies chopping, mixing and filling cannelloni! Out front is Giovanni and a nephew or grandson slicing prosciutto or filling cannolies.

There are many places like this all over this area. Right now there is a deli in Lodi about ten minutes from my house where they are making homemade roasted eggplant with olives, tomatoes, onion, garlic, capers and a ton of fresh basil to spread on grilled garlic bread. This is the beginning of the season.

If Olive Garden served any of these simple dishes I doubt they would be considered edible by anyone around here with a drop of Italian blood.

The very best deli outside of Brooklyn or Staten Island (there is a big competition between the three) is in Hoboken. It's called Fiores and I know the family who owns it well. (I babysit for their Yorkie Rosie when they go on vacation.) You cannot believe this place. Walking in the door is like stepping in to a beautiful lush painting! It smells like heaven! The people who own it have been there for generations. It would take you a month of eating to sample every dish, cheese and cold cut. They make their own sausage, fresh or dried and their own fresh ricotta, creamy or prima salata! Raviolis filled to order! The best!
This is a big Italian area and we (I am one half) have been foodies for thousands of years! We don't go for pre-fab dining!