Not-up-to-Italian-Standards Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

A garrulous second-generation Italian guy used to cut my husband and son’s hair. Every couple of weeks we’d head to the barber shop. I’d sit and read while the guys sat in the chair getting shaved, listening to Mike’s opinions as he cut, stopping to wave his hands around as he made (what he thought) was a particularly good point. Comb in one hand and the clippers in the other, he’d step back from the chair and yammer. Then he’d cut and shave some more. Still yammering, mind you.



We traded insults every once in awhile…….it felt like I was back in Philly. Good times. Ok, what does this have to do with a knock off recipe for Olive Garden’s chicken Scampi? During one of the visits as Mike was sharing the minutiae of his day, the subject of restaurants came up.

He said, “no self respecting Italian would ever eat at Olive Garden.” As the word garden left his mouth, he all but spat on the floor in disgust at the slop they must serve to the masses.



Right. Well…. I for one love authentic and local Italian places. We don’t eat at chain restaurants very often. But I will admit – I liked the chicken scampi they served at O.G. My version here turned out well. I’d recommend it.


Olive Garden Chicken Scampi recipe may be found HERE


Buon Appetito!